tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63515204864692576782017-09-25T20:35:42.450-07:00Lulu & Sweet PeaLulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.comBlogger620125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-81388084920691857892017-09-25T11:05:00.001-07:002017-09-25T11:05:01.986-07:00Tips for soothing a fussy baby<a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><div style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/311561891.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0;"></div></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If there's one thing I firmly believe in, it's moms helping out other moms. I'll be the first to admit that I'm far from the perfect parent. I make mistakes- tons of them, and even after 13 years of motherhood I still have questions and struggles when it comes to parenting. I have, however, learned a few things along the way, and that's why I wanted to share this post so badly and offer tips to parents out there who are just stressed out and exhausted as I have at times felt. The first few months of parenthood can be the most overwhelming months of your entire life, and I'm here to let you know that it won't last forever! So if you have a fussy baby, read on and learn some of my best tips for soothing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-heKGRpU0dVs/WclEUfQgpmI/AAAAAAAAIIg/kZvxuiudA6kKUMGp78y3ZfhH3lFk8_jjACLcBGAs/s640/8A390322-E3E2-4CF4-A0E6-E4F1FD799642.png" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Baby wearing.</b> Try a wrap or a carrier- they were life-savers for me with my little ones. Harper and Josiah both loved being all wrapped up on me when they were super fussy. Babies love the skin-to-skin contact, the warmth from your body, the feel of your heart beating, and you'll love it because your hands are free. Plus, you can still kiss their sweet heads and faces while wearing them, and you can give your back and arms a break while you snuggle your sweet baby.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pacifier.</b> If your baby will tolerate it, try a pacifier. Both my girls rejected their binkies adamantly for the first 6 months, but finally caved and soon came to love their binkies. Some people might think it's a bad habit to start, but I firmly believe in the power of the pacifier. If you're like me and were tired of being the living pacifier (AKA, nursing machine) give in to the pacifier! I had to buy nearly every single style, shape, and size out there, but we eventually found one they'd take.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Swing.</b> This swing saved our butts, and it was the only thing my last 2 babies would sleep in for the first few months. I know, I know. I was against them sleeping in the swing at first too, but then I realized that I needed to sleep more than I needed to feel good about them sleeping in their cribs, so the swing won.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Swaddle</b>. Again, this thing saved us. I finally realized around 1 month that Harper just couldn't sleep without waking herself up if she wasn't swaddled. Babies have a startle reflex&nbsp;and some babies don't grow out of it until around 6 months of age. Swaddling helps baby feel secure and keep them from flailing their arms around and waking themselves up. Some babies need to be swaddled even longer- Harper still refused to sleep without hers until around 9 months old. That might sound like a long time, but trust me, I tried breaking her of it earlier, and it didn't work. She needed that extra security for some reason, so I kept wrapping her up and she was happy. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hLGsdMxnO98/Wck7I8omi8I/AAAAAAAAIIM/XVMzI6MJhUkItcKcHAtMngH2t27V6oECQCLcBGAs/s400/2537E33A-612F-4E32-84EE-C807F9438510.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Go for a drive/walk.</b> If your baby doesn't mind the car seat or stroller, go for a drive or a walk. Some babies love the soothing motion of being in a car. Some (like Harper) hate it. But if I put her in the stroller and took her for a walk, she'd usually calm down and fall asleep. The jiggling of the wheels on the sidewalk helped too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Take a break.</b> This one is hard to do sometimes, especially if you're the only adult home with the baby. But babies can sense stress, and it can also affect your milk supply. If your baby is crying and you can't calm her down at all, you need a break. Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, and neighbors. Moms can't do it all and we need help too. Even if you can only get away for 5 minutes, do it. Go outside, get some air, and clear your head. Or better yet, go take a bath or shower. I'm sure you need it and I do some of my best thinking while I'm in the shower. Hop in, scrub the baby vomit off your body, wash your greasy hair, and try to think happy thoughts. When you're done, you'll be more calm and collected and should be able to face your crying baby again. Can't get away? At least go in another room, count to 10, and take some deep breaths. Try calling your mom or a friend and let them know you need some help with a crying baby!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Use a probiotic.</b> Most importantly, use a probiotic right from the start. <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03">Evivo</a></b> is a probiotic powder and the&nbsp;<i>only</i>&nbsp;probiotic&nbsp;that is clinically proven to&nbsp;maximize every bit of breast milk’s nutrients to feed baby,&nbsp;restore the level’s of <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03">B. infantis</a></b> (good bacteria) in baby’s gut,&nbsp;protect baby’s gut microbiome for a healthy metabolism and immune system, and&nbsp;defend against bad bacteria linked to eczema, allergies, diabetes and obesity.&nbsp;B. infantis is the good bacteria that minimizes the potentially harmful ones—especially those that are linked to a higher risk for conditions like colic, eczema, allergies, obesity, and diabetes. Research has shown that when B. infantis flourishes in baby’s gut, baby has fewer and better-formed poops.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A764gjKnY0k/WclBDkxh_II/AAAAAAAAIIQ/zPg8nrDkjv0Jfh-xSY6JbBq8dsVinK2NQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0027.png" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By making <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03">Evivo probiotic powder</a></b> a part of your baby's daily feeding routine, you can make a huge difference in your baby's health for life, and the sooner the better! <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03">Evivo</a></b> (activated B. infantis) is good bacteria that will dominate the baby's gut, outcompeting other organisms and protecting baby from the inside out. Simply mix the probiotic powder with breast milk to help that good bacteria thrive. The first 6 months of life is the most ideal time to help establish healthy infant gut microbiome- the first step towards lifelong health!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O9oujM5W188/Wck1z1grisI/AAAAAAAAIII/HEhHHaSJh2sXU3lrA3DLieJqwdg5GlE1wCLcBGAs/s1600/evivo.png" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Buy Evivo &amp; save!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Right now you can save big on <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03">Evivo</a></b> with these special promo codes. These codes will only work for the first 50 people who redeem them and expire on 11/30/17, so act quickly and save some major money on this awesome probiotic for babies.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Get $10 off an <a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03">Evivo Probiotics Starter Kit</a> of 4 weeks or more with&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"><b>BLOG3011</b></span> at checkout.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Get $20 off a 12, 20, or 24 week starter kit with&nbsp;<b><span style="font-size: large;">BLOG3012</span></b> at checkout.<span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot; , serif , &quot;emojifont&quot;; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're a new parent I highly recommend checking out <a href="https://ooh.li/0987f03"><b>Evivo.com</b></a> to learn more about the importance of your baby's gut health. I wish I had known some of this stuff with my four kids!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><center style="text-align: justify;"></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-52995321756705538832017-09-08T07:23:00.001-07:002017-09-08T07:23:33.090-07:00Find your scent without breaking the bank<a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><div style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/604033058.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0;"></div></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">If there's one thing I take seriously as a mother, it's my showers. Shower time is probably my favorite morning ritual that I look forward to most (and probably don't get often enough). Baby goes down for a nap and I get so lather up and wash away the stress and cares of the world. It's where I do my best thinking, too. Sometimes I'm rushing just to get it all done as quickly as possible, other times we've just come from our walk and I need to freshen up, or maybe I need something invigorating to wake me up and get stuff done that day. Whatever my mood or plans for the day, <b><a href="https://ooh.li/9193430">Suave body washes</a></b> have got me covered with a scent for every occasion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/9193430"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fXfQs4WYMD4/WaiFpqkQopI/AAAAAAAAIG8/twgQljLplwEIRCu9VIiijpo_U4bbXKHlgCLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0175%2B%25282%2529.png" width="471" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://ooh.li/9193430">Suave</a> is a trusted family brand that's been around for 75 years. From shampoos, body washes, lotions, and deodorants, they're known for their high-quality products that work just as well as other premium brands without the hefty price tag. I've been stocking my shower with <a href="https://ooh.li/9193430">Suave body washes</a> for some time now. I love the indulgent smells, the luxurious lather, and the price is crazy good (I get mine at Target and they are just over $2 each!) So grabbing one or two or five of each &nbsp;in whatever fragrance happens to catch my eye (or nose) isn't a problem. I do have three bathrooms to stock, after all, so a product that I love that's also budget-friendly is a must in my book!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/9193430"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6qUoz2ThVpI/WaiFqG9aHqI/AAAAAAAAIHA/-YENEMhZDnw-qlL7Seb8DMXLNByGeoyVACLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0172.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking of which, with three bathrooms and six people that need to bathe, I wanted to make sure I had a variety of fragrances to please everyone. Suave can help choose the right scent for you to take your shower to the next level with their Suave Body Wash Quiz <b><a href="https://ooh.li/9193430">here</a></b>. I got Tropical Coconut, which is so me because I <i>love </i>the smell of coconut and I <i>absolutely</i> wish I was somewhere tropical right about now. I tend to lean towards the rich, creamy body washes with soothing scents, while my daughter prefers garden-inspired floral ones, and my son likes the refreshing, crisp, fresh smells. Cocoa Butter &amp; Shea, Almond Verbena, and Wild Cherry Blossom are just a few of our favorites to keep on hand. They also work great as bubble bath for the little ones!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://ooh.li/9193430">Suave body washes</a></b> are totally my secret for feeling and smelling good on a budget and lets me indulge a little in the comfort of my own shower. When you smell good, you feel good, and you look good!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not sure what Suave body wash scent is best for you? Let your senses decide! Take the <b><a href="https://ooh.li/9193430">Suave Body Wash Quiz</a></b>. When you're done you'll get a <b>cash back</b> offer&nbsp;for your first purchase.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/9193430"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9yi4NpSdqV0/WaiFly-HdiI/AAAAAAAAIG4/DwEfSW6Tww46j41UCrNT9MdbCCrwrX7egCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0181.jpg" /></a></div><center></center><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-38159207920994145342017-08-31T14:10:00.002-07:002017-08-31T14:10:31.243-07:00This is me<div style="text-align: justify;">The other day I took a quick peek at some of my early blog posts...waaaaay back in 2011 when I first started this little ol' thing. I was trying to remember why I started this blog, and as I stumbled through some embarrassingly weird, awkward, rambly posts (as mine often tend to be), I remembered that I started it for myself. This was back before social media was what it is today- basically the ruler of our modern lives. Back when I started this blog, blogging was <i>the</i> way to connect with other people, to share your life with your family and friends, and to keep a sort of record of your daily or weekly happenings. I started it because I liked to write, even though I'm not the best at it. I'm not some eloquent speaker, nor do I come across that way in print, but I've always loved journaling and writing my thoughts and ideas down...even if it's just for myself. Most of my stuff ends up being way too long or wordy, but that's me- I'm the friend who sends you a wall of text on Facebook messenger or in a text message.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nevertheless, my point with that already too-long introduction paragraph, is that while browsing through some of my archives, I realized how different I was back then. That while this little blog URL might still be the same, the person writing it isn't. When I shared my very first blog post I was a 20-something stay at home mom with two little kids. I was bored and lonely. My two kids were the easiest, sweetest, super low-maintenance, most self-sufficient kids on the planet, and I was living in a new town with no friends or family close by. I needed something for myself. So I started this as a hobby, to keep track of things, share my latest crafts and projects (back when I still had time for that sort of thing), and to occasionally get a little too personal and ramble my way through whatever little "thing" I was going through or dealing with at the moment. All of that seems like a lifetime ago, and the person I was back then feels like a completely different version of myself. Since it's been a whopping 6 years and counting since my first little introduction, I felt like maybe I should introduce myself now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Where do I even start? If someone asked me to tell a little about myself, I honestly don't know what I'd really say at this point. All of my adult life "who I am" has always been defined by my marriage, my children, my job, and what I like to do for fun. Those are the basics, right? Let's see- I'm a 30-something, still-married mom of four kids. I went to beauty school 10 years ago and quickly realized that I didn't want to be working in a salon setting and that I just wanted to be a stay at home mom. I'd now consider myself a mom who works from home, running my blog and my new-ish home business (SeneGence) from my house while trying to juggle motherhood and wife stuff. Most days I feel like I fail to keep all of those balls in the air. This last year has been a freaking doozy (more on that in another upcoming post- I promise), so my blogging has slowed down considerably lately. My hobbies include drinking coffee, trying (usually failing) to keep the house clean, and making sure each child makes it to bed still alive and breathing at the end of the day. Once upon a time, my bio probably said something about loving to read, write, sew, craft, etc. Now I can't even remember the last time I picked up a book (that wasn't made of cardboard so a baby can't tear it up) and my sewing machine is sitting in a corner of my basement covered in a thick layer of dust and surrounded by half-unpacked boxes from our move 6 months ago. I used to love keeping up on the latest nail trends, staying up late doing something crafty, and devouring books like they were my favorite cup of coffee, but nowadays I just don't have the time. While I used to live for doing my nails on the weekly, getting dolled up almost every day and keeping my hair freshly colored no matter what, now I find myself with broken, chipped nails (oh, the horror for this nail tech!), my makeup gets done maybe 2 days a week (when I'm leaving the house), and my hair maintenance is laughable (thank goodness that ombre, roots-showing look is still somewhat in style, am I right?)<br /><br />The old me probably wouldn't recognize the me that I see in the mirror now, and that's something I've been struggling with lately. Have you ever heard the phrase "Comparison is the thief of joy?" It's so relevant for me. Not because I'm comparing myself to other people (which I totally do too), but because I'm comparing myself to the person I used to be. That young, naive, overly-eager girl has been replaced by an older, slightly wiser, way more tired, busy mom of four just trying her damnedest to take care of her family, keep the love alive in her marriage, and raise kids who grow up to not be assholes. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in what I'm<i> not</i>&nbsp;anymore that I fail to see what I <i>am</i>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf-2JpLoO6c/Wah5uSqKETI/AAAAAAAAIGo/KFprpYB-0T0b4cOqTzjza3H15szH5lTowCLcBGAs/s1600/Inspiring%252Bquotes%252Bthat%252Bsparkle%252Bon%252BShowerbelle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="403" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kf-2JpLoO6c/Wah5uSqKETI/AAAAAAAAIGo/KFprpYB-0T0b4cOqTzjza3H15szH5lTowCLcBGAs/s1600/Inspiring%252Bquotes%252Bthat%252Bsparkle%252Bon%252BShowerbelle.png" /></a></div><br />So here's a little reintroduction of sorts for you guys, but mostly for myself, because I need to just be OK with who I am now at this point in my life.&nbsp;I'm a wife. A mom. A beauty enthusiast. A book lover who doesn't read. A crafter with lots of good ideas and no time to follow through. I was born in California, moved to Idaho for my school years, and I now consider Washington my home. I hate to cook. I yell at my kids. Cleaning is my therapy. I love coffee more than food. I'm a procrastinator. I loathe grocery shopping. I think every mom should drive a minivan (cuz they are awesome!) I'm a former TV junkie. I can sew but I don't follow patterns. I'm very impatient. I have major anxiety and am dealing with PPD. I hate sweating and feeling hot. I love to get mail. I'm an Amazon addict. I think I'm funny. I love to make lists. I have a really hard time talking about things face to face. I don't like the taste of alcohol. I'm not a fan of sports. I love hanging out at home. I have naturally curly hair that I hate. I'm terrified of flying. I love candy and sweets. I'm not a fan of talking on the phone. I've never left the west coast. I can grow anything in my backyard but I kill indoor houseplants every single time. And I hate wearing jeans. This is me. *waves*<br /><br /></div><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-91181394221775399222017-08-10T11:32:00.002-07:002017-08-10T11:32:41.146-07:00Baby Loved, Science Proven <a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/760765189.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Playtime is such a crucial part of early childhood development. Babies and children learn through playing, so wouldn't it make sense that we should be picky about their toys? Lamaze Toys are baby loved and science proven, meaning they are designed with every stage of your baby's development in mind. I'm sharing a few of our favorite <b><a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62">Lamaze Toys</a></b>, as well as a promo code to get <a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62">20% Lamaze Toys on Amazon</a>, so read on to see which ones my kiddos and I recommend.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sf3rSwWUlpA/WYycVD7oekI/AAAAAAAAIGE/zJhpJZL0hogd92ko3B4_SY_ibTekhKfIACLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0122a.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62">Octotunes</a> has got to be Josiah's favorite. This adorable, giant plush octopus has 8 musical tentacles that are made of different textures and patterns. When squeezed, they play a different musical note, so you and baby can make some sweet music together. Josiah laughs when you squeeze them- a skill he's mastering once he has a little more hand strength. He loves to stare at the big, friendly eyes and smile, which promotes healthy eye development. He loves wrestling around with this thing! It's fun to watch his face when he falls over and accidentally hits a musical note.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9GFkqoemDw/WYyGknhA15I/AAAAAAAAIFs/vm_KsRzXeOsEjcGNm5mEAOUpWucBZZ8IgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0128.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_KlpScgVtqc/WYyGkee_EJI/AAAAAAAAIFo/9ov0fqoy1GM0KB_XMSTj4FxRxl2mX9xvgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0129.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62">Cosimo Concerto</a> is a soft, plush zebra that doubles as a piano. Each of the colorful stripes plays a different note when pressed. The bright, bold colors and patterns are great to help your baby focus and stimulate visual development. The crinkles and multiple textures are fun to feel and stimulate tactile senses. There's also a switch you can flip on the back to play musical tunes instead of just notes, which encourages movement! Josiah likes to rock and sway when squeezes the zebra and turns on the music.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Lastly, the <a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62">Counting Animals Book</a> was a big hit for us. Josiah loves things that crinkle, and he loves flipping through books and stares at the pages. This interactive book has high contrast pages for him to look at and work on his visual development. He's able to grip and grab the soft, crinkly pages and develop fine motor skills. He loves to grab his book and bring it over to me- already knowing perfectly how to climb up on my lap as we turn the pages together and count the different animals. I also love that this book has a little clip on it, so I can easily hook it on his car seat or stroller strap so he has something to look at in the car or while running errands. I can always hear the crinkling from the backseat! &nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j7pBPB3ISEc/WYyGmq6rJQI/AAAAAAAAIF0/Qephw6RjGIodDiwvggTK7RP60D8O2mHIQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC_0148.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IITH6febcT8/WYylYPFzmKI/AAAAAAAAIGU/gIgpn99LxtUqpLMycIKNO7Lhd0rp9c2lACLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0135.png" width="427" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Right now through August 26th you can get <a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62">20% off Lamaze Toys on Amazon</a> by clicking <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62">here</a></span> and using the promo code 20octotunes! If you or someone you know has or is expecting a baby, pass along this code to them- <a href="https://ooh.li/3a5dd62">Lamaze Toys</a> make a great baby shower or new baby gift and promote independent learning.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-37180339161922172712017-07-31T11:22:00.000-07:002017-08-02T11:22:50.786-07:00Support your baby's health for life <a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/390359083.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I think every parent struggles with making the right choices for their new baby. Whether it's what to feed them, how to get them to sleep, which car seat or stroller to buy, whether or &nbsp;not to give them a pacifier...in the early days of babyhood there are so many decisions to make and everyone is full of opinions on what's right and what's wrong. I thought I had it all covered. As a mom, I want to make sure each of my children has everything they need to grow up healthy, and it starts from birth. One thing I just recently learned is how important your baby's gut health is and why you should start your baby on a probiotic from <b><a href="https://ooh.li/31eabe8">Evivo</a></b> as soon as they are born.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/31eabe8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EEd3tJ2rLzY/WYIQ6dAG0sI/AAAAAAAAIFA/uIp1hoiTH8M5WfUtEpt4f10mcXqjawcSACLcBGAs/s640/74FE0F9C-F18B-43E5-A646-3025FC3DA911.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Evivo is a probiotic powder and the only <a href="https://ooh.li/31eabe8">probiotic</a> that is clinically proven to:<br /><ul><li>maximize every bit of breast milk’s nutrients to feed baby</li><li>restore the level’s of B. infantis in baby’s gut</li><li>protect baby’s gut microbiome for a healthy metabolism and immune system</li><li>defend against bad bacteria linked to eczema, allergies, diabetes and obesity</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/31eabe8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OJnxFt_SMlc/WYIQ7goIVUI/AAAAAAAAIFE/iJY80vEeW5QEQBCBaelVaahHZJEKwxMmACLcBGAs/s400/3ECF4FAF-700B-4684-93DD-38CCEFDD9B23.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Every day thousands of mothers choose breast milk to provide their babies optimal nutrition and immunity. A University of California study showed that breast milk also promotes the growth of B. infantis in babies, good bacteria that supports a healthy infant gut. Unfortunately, most babies born today do not receive this key beneficial bacteria because today's moms are no longer passing the beneficial bacteria to their babies at birth. Many of these moms lack it themselves. Because of this, Evivo is here to help with the best probiotic for babies. - <a href="https://ooh.li/31eabe8">Evivo.com</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/31eabe8"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob-OXRCf8fE/WYIT2xxOQbI/AAAAAAAAIFU/Q-2iJRoDmdo-gM_VDcdeK5U5Ogh_bm9jQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_0027.png" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/31eabe8"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x2m5lVHaQXE/WYIU-iPBXkI/AAAAAAAAIFY/-rechMsbBe8lhe8qm56OupWNgZWDPIBMQCLcBGAs/s1600/evivo.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By making <b><a href="https://ooh.li/31eabe8">Evivo probiotic powder</a></b> a part of your baby's daily feeding routine, you can make a huge difference in your baby's health for life, and the sooner the better! Evivo (activated B. infantis) is good bacteria that will dominate the baby's gut, outcompeting other organisms and protecting baby from the inside out. Simply mix the probiotic powder with breast milk to help that good bacteria thrive. The first 6 months of life is the most ideal time to help establish healthy infant gut microbiome- the first step towards lifelong health!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Guess what? I have a promo code for $10 off an Evivo Probiotic starter kit! This code can only be redeemed by the first 50 people to use it, so act quickly and save $10 off! You can also pass along the code to a new mom friend or expectant mother! Simply use the code&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ev7-434bts9d</b></span> at checkout.<span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 18px; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're a new parent I highly recommend checking out <a href="https://ooh.li/31eabe8">Evivo.com</a> to learn more about the importance of your baby's gut &nbsp;health. I wish I had known some of this stuff with my four kids!&nbsp;</div><br /><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;">A big thank you to Evivo for sponsoring this post! And thank you to all of my readers for supporting the partners that make this little blog possible.</i></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-11201978150212157592017-07-13T07:25:00.000-07:002017-07-13T07:25:35.664-07:00Mid-week confessions<div style="text-align: justify;">Happy Thursday! I wanted to bring back mid-week confessions, but in true form, I'm a tad late on this one. I meant to have this ready by Wednesday, but with summer and the kids and crazy life happenings it just didn't happen. Better late than never, though, right? This is such an easy and fun little way for me to check in on the regular and share some fun little tidbits that have been on my heart and mind lately. So let's get started!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WEWMydJ0Uwc/WWbsNocGGOI/AAAAAAAAIEg/4AmIpWepM8skGwxXQQEot3BIze7ugsHIQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2969.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WEWMydJ0Uwc/WWbsNocGGOI/AAAAAAAAIEg/4AmIpWepM8skGwxXQQEot3BIze7ugsHIQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2969.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Summertime has me all kinds of cranky. Seriously- I've had the summertime blues or something over here. My kids have been fighting nonstop, it's been hotter than heck, and most days I don't have the energy or patience to take them all in public by myself. We've made it to the water park exactly one time and were zero for three when it comes to the lake. I think we're going to call this "the summer we spent at home" because we're doing a lot of backyard hangs by the kiddie pool and bike rides around the neighborhood in the mornings and evenings. Oh, and don't forget hours glued to the XBOX or watching movies and soaking up the AC in our pajamas, because hey, let's be real. Entertaining four kids- one of whom is a potty-training toddler and another high maintenance baby is a huge undertaking. I'm just high-fiving my husband if they are all alive, fed, and semi-clean at the end of the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ2frBQqkeU/WWbsMoSjQmI/AAAAAAAAIEc/WuK28cWaQYYzCOljLYYoqPkIJVMLmZPEACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2860.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ2frBQqkeU/WWbsMoSjQmI/AAAAAAAAIEc/WuK28cWaQYYzCOljLYYoqPkIJVMLmZPEACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2860.png" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Winter is here. Not literally, but if you're a Game of Thrones fan you know exactly what I'm talking about. Winter has been coming, and now it's here...the new season starts this Sunday and I can't wait to pick up where we left off. I've been impatiently waiting since they decided to delay the premiere this season (lame) and shorten it to only 7 episodes instead of 10. Next season (the final one) will only be 6 episodes! What the hell, HBO? Why are you doing this to us? We neeeeeeeed more Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen and dragons and white walkers. These need to be like 4 hour episodes. This is the only show that my husband will watch with me and I don't have anything good to watch at the moment, so I'm dying for this to start up again!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u0Hfqy4QTQg/WWeBrnDJa4I/AAAAAAAAIEw/Br9U_dKsnHIyT5Ac9MI4y7hGpG-zUn9kgCLcBGAs/s1600/Game-of-Thrones-Season-7-ice-dragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="693" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u0Hfqy4QTQg/WWeBrnDJa4I/AAAAAAAAIEw/Br9U_dKsnHIyT5Ac9MI4y7hGpG-zUn9kgCLcBGAs/s400/Game-of-Thrones-Season-7-ice-dragon.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have no clue how to dress myself! Do I shop in the old lady section and give in to elastic waists and tapered legs? Or do I roll into the Junior section with my double stroller and teen and tween in tow? Seriously...someone tell me how to dress for my age because I surely can't figure it out. I tried on this weird jumper thing at Target and it just wasn't good, so I went back to my boring jean cut off shorts and tank top.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1BDdIE94nkc/WWbsJqnBirI/AAAAAAAAIEU/VmvZpJSwMoElJAVoW8_yZic3GldANx1fwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2064.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1BDdIE94nkc/WWbsJqnBirI/AAAAAAAAIEU/VmvZpJSwMoElJAVoW8_yZic3GldANx1fwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2064.png" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been a tad bit obsessed with all things makeup and skincare related lately. My name is Melissa, and I'm a SeneGence junkie...at least I admit it! I had no idea when I signed up to sell LipSense that I'd be also selling an amazing skincare &amp; makeup line too. Anyone who knows me (or my blog) knows that I love all things beauty related and I'm always trying new products and different brands. Not anymore. I literally trashed all of my old stuff and swapped it out for SeneGence- it's that good! Everything is vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, long-wearing, and made in the United States and comes with 100% money back guarantee too, which is amazing! I'm so happy with everything I'm using now and I've seen a huge difference in my skin. Before, it was chalky and oily at the same time (and how does that even happen?) I had way more lines and wrinkles and my skin was just dull and flat and boring. Now it's perfectly moisturized, my lines and wrinkles are less pronounced, and my skin is more radiant and almost glows. I'm definitely going to be sharing some of my favorite products here on the blog. Never before did I think I'd be going makeup free on facebook live to do makeup looks, but that's what I've bee finding myself doing a lot lately.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YI7e7ylfXho/WWbsGB7njzI/AAAAAAAAIEQ/goDCaSBJ4NMUATTeg8NViD79j3E698QqwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1658.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YI7e7ylfXho/WWbsGB7njzI/AAAAAAAAIEQ/goDCaSBJ4NMUATTeg8NViD79j3E698QqwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_1658.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Which brings me to blogging. Now that I feel a little more balanced with this <a href="http://facebook.com/groups/lipsticklovin">LipSense/SeneGence</a> venture, I hope to blog a little more regularly again. No promises, but it's just a goal of mine!&nbsp;</div><center><br /></center><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-48494931364219585602017-07-06T08:23:00.001-07:002017-07-06T08:24:58.585-07:00My struggle to feed baby number 4<a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/597979861.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I found out I was expecting baby number four, I knew right away what my feeding plan would be. Like all of my other babies, I was going to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months and I'd continue to nurse well past the 1 year mark. Breastfeeding was something that always came pretty easily to me- something I realize now that I kind of took for granted, and it was actually one of my favorite parts of being a new mom. I loved nursing my babies. I loved the closeness, the bonding, the sweet snuggles, and the convenience of just whipping out a boob and having immediate nourishment at the perfect temperature at any given time. For me, it was a real time and money saver, plus it was a great way to burn off some of that baby weight and not have to deal with buying formula, washing bottles, and all of that. I never thought in a million years that baby four would come along and totally throw my perfect little plan right out the window, but that's exactly what happened, and I was so not prepared.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/8a0bf62"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X5Hn6lYIDAg/WV5TxMWHd5I/AAAAAAAAID4/afrMPxfJargYVWN0pR-6vVqwvJQjVuPHgCLcBGAs/s400/3ECF4FAF-700B-4684-93DD-38CCEFDD9B23.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/8a0bf62"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0A4Td5VTnC4/WV5T4AKwKYI/AAAAAAAAIEA/cURGGfpZ28ApHbtafJ1sF35a4_qaChEoACLcBGAs/s400/B94C0178-8CA7-421D-8431-8D61B7451202.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then Josiah was born and everything started off great. As with my previous babies, I had more than enough milk in the beginning. I could pump more than 6 ounces in about 5 minutes flat and I had a nice little stockpile of extra breast milk in the freezer. It wasn't until he was about 3 months old that the stress of having four kids- a 12 year old, an 8 year old, a very needy 2 year old, and a newborn, started to wear on me. I was exhausted. I was the only person who could feed Josiah because, hello...I had the milk. I was angry, resentful, and stressed to the max. Sure, there's always a little adjustment period after adding a new baby to the family, but this was way more than just that. I knew I had some postpartum issues going on and I talked to my doctor.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I decided to switch to pumping so that my husband and the bigger kids could help feed Josiah and give myself a little break. I had already noticed that my milk wasn't as abundant as it had been in the beginning, but figured maybe my milk supply was finally leveling out. Josiah loved taking a bottle- he had always been an impatient nurser, so the instant gratification of having a bottle gushing milk was exactly what he wanted. I began to pump less and less milk, much to my frustration. I was finding myself taking bags of milk out of the freezer when I'd go to pump and get frustrated because I could only get an ounce or two. That became more and more of a thing, until I realized we'd gone through all of the 40+ bags of milk I'd been stockpiling. Pumping was a nightmare, even though I had a great pump and a routine. I was suddenly hardly able to pump anything, and not having frozen milk in the freezer really stressed me out. My husband suggested buying some formula to supplement, but I told him that would only make my dwindling milk supply even worse. When he suggested just stopping the pumping and switching to formula I looked at him like he'd lost his mind. <i>I can do this!</i> I screamed at him. I wasn't ready to give up- I could do it. I'd breastfed my last baby for 16 months and I had about 3 years of breastfeeding under my belt- I was a pro! I wasn't going to give it up for anything. I'd figure out what the problem was and make it work. I was no quitter and I wasn't going to be defeated.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I tried everything. Drinking tons of water, eating better, and trying to get more rest (which was impossible with a now 4 month old with no real sleep schedule). I tried supplements, special herbal teas, and power pumping. I tried to not stress even more about it, which is easier said than done when you have a crying baby and literally nothing to feed him. I was pumping just a few <i>drops.</i>&nbsp;I felt like I was at war with my body- why, oh why, could I not make any milk for Josiah, when I'd never had this problem with any of my other children? I felt like I was being punished or something. It wasn't until one evening, after a hellish day at home with the kids, after sweating and crying just trying to get a little milk for Josiah, that my husband came home with some formula. He mixed up a 6 ounce bottle, took the baby from me, and fed him, and I felt like a weight had been instantly lifted off of my shoulders. That was the day I quit breastfeeding and 100% switched to formula feeding, and I have absolutely zero regrets about my decision.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fast-forward 6 months and I now have a completely healthy and happy 10 month old baby boy who is totally thriving. Those painful, gut-wrenching months are behind me, where I questioned myself as a mother and wondered if I was doing the right thing constantly. Do I miss breastfeeding? Yes. Do I wish I was able to breastfeed my 10 month old? Yes. But sometimes your plan doesn't match up with reality, and for whatever reason, my body just couldn't do it this time around. And you know what? That's OK!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/8a0bf62"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gLbRCpl5rT8/WV5TyEFoGgI/AAAAAAAAID8/vEFm93DaScUgfMzrnlq9OaD-fDoS6NGcACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2600.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">How I wish I'd known about the <b><a href="https://ooh.li/8a0bf62">Happy Family Infant Feeding Platform</a></b>, which was made to ensure all families feel supported during their infant feeding journey. New moms and dads need all the help they can get, and this <a href="https://ooh.li/8a0bf62">amazing platform</a> would have come in handy for me when I was struggling. Creating a dialogue for infant feeding is crucial, as it's safe to say that millions of other women like me struggle with this as well. Whether your plan is to breastfeed, bottle feed, supplement, or whatever the case may be, it's so reassuring knowing that there are certified specialists and lactation consultants <a href="https://ooh.li/8a0bf62">just a click away</a> on their nifty live-chat feature. They are ready and willing to help new parents!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're a new parent please take advantage of &nbsp;<b><a href="https://ooh.li/8a0bf62">Happy Family Infant Feeding Platform</a></b>! Everyone's parenting journey is going to be different and you're going to have your own struggles and victories, but it's so reassuring knowing the support is there. Even if you're not a new parent, I'm sure you know of one, so do that mom or dad a huge favor and <a href="https://ooh.li/8a0bf62">pass this website link</a> along to them. I'm sure they will thank you later!&nbsp;</div><br /><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center><center><i><br /></i></center><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>A big thank you to Happy Family Brands for sponsoring this post! And thank you to all of my readers for supporting the partners that make this little blog possible.</i></div>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-40122778366120213662017-06-21T07:47:00.001-07:002017-06-21T07:52:15.315-07:00Slow summers & summer bucket list fun<a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/555636716.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Summer break is finally officially upon us here in Washington, and my kids couldn't be happier. We're not big on super busy, crazy summer plans. Sure, we like to hit up our local water park, spend a couple of days here &amp; there by the lake, and enjoy the sunshine as much as possible (especially after the long, cold winter we had this year). But with four kids now- one of those being a baby and another a rambunctious toddler, I'm much more into summer days spent in the backyard by the kiddie pool and the occasional family movie day in the air conditioned house. As our family has grown and our lives have become busier, I really do enjoy spending more of our time here at home, as a family, slowing down and not really having to be anywhere. Slow summers are my favorite!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/2259253"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1BPbzk50bSI/WUnBJgpKl6I/AAAAAAAAIDI/RVjyqI3M-MQ2l0ZY1Gz07ja4touAzAjxwCLcBGAs/s640/DSC_0099.png" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Slow doesn't mean boring! Like I said, we still do plenty of fun stuff, but I definitely don't let my kids run me ragged all day either. Mama still has work to do, too, and I need to maintain my own sanity. Have you ever gone out in public with four kids? My 9 year old daughter decided to make us a summer bucket list as a sort of "goal" for us to remember to do a few of our favorite summer activities, in addition to those laid back, easy summer days at home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/2259253"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ynfmkvv5bA/WUnjUHS3gDI/AAAAAAAAIDY/R3WC6dFpan8mYaIn1z_o1YcR6v4PvBnUgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1905.png" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our list includes things like visiting the water park, going for a hike, and swimming at the lake...these are all things I imagine that we'll do <i>maybe</i> once this summer, if we are lucky. Some of my favorites on her bucket list are riding bikes around the neighborhood, camping out in the backyard, and having a water balloon fight- all totally doable, right? She even included some fun little ones like "swim like a mermaid" (she just got one of those little fin things that go on your feet), and "learn how to do the splits" (because she wants to do cheer leading next school year). Those are also things I'll probably pass on, but I'm totally down for the bike ride and water balloon fight!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/2259253"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5MdXd2iiMB4/WUnBJY9qavI/AAAAAAAAIDM/vlg63VvCVQk96_k1agLN4L_Z1MieoxkBwCEwYBhgL/s640/DSC_0086.png" width="427" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;<span style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://ooh.li/2259253">Fruit Shoot</a></b> is great for all of our summer adventures, whether it be at home in the back yard or at the lake or water park. I prefer these to other juice pouches or boxes because of the resealable cap. The little pop top lid is so much easier than a straw, which frees me up from having to open them and clean up the inevitable mess that comes along with juice pouches. Whatever lets my strong willed toddler claim some more independence is a win in my book! The bottles are nice and durable too- strong enough to withstand my toddler's death grip and being dropped/thrown a million times outside. <b><a href="https://ooh.li/2259253">Fruit Shoot</a></b> are super portable and convenient to take along on any of our summer adventures and contain no artificial flavors, no high fructose corn syrup, and they don't add any sugar- a huge win in my book. I can let the kids do their thing and feel good about letting them choose a <b><a href="https://ooh.li/2259253">fun drink</a></b> that they like to re-hydrate with.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/2259253"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h5K87xIsayU/WUnBHtGUZII/AAAAAAAAIDM/fwuNKnneGNk5TlEII3cVKgV5im7AHDoOwCEwYBhgL/s640/DSC_0113.png" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So what are your big summer plans? Do you have any or are you slowing down and going with the flow like my family? Make a summer bucket list and check some of your goals off these next few weeks! And make sure to stock up on <b><a href="https://ooh.li/2259253">Fruit Shoot</a></b>- my kids #1 favorite drink, no joke! I get ours at our local Fred Meyer store and my kids love every flavor, especially fruit punch. You can find where to buy Fruit Shoot by using the store locator <a href="https://ooh.li/2259253">here</a>!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy summer-ing!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YnKTcD_HTic/WUqGn4qtHXI/AAAAAAAAIDo/aksyAZyRwxwloPku8a06nXs-vk2MHv-4gCLcBGAs/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="59" data-original-width="102" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YnKTcD_HTic/WUqGn4qtHXI/AAAAAAAAIDo/aksyAZyRwxwloPku8a06nXs-vk2MHv-4gCLcBGAs/s1600/signature.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-54532405554275898022017-05-08T21:58:00.000-07:002017-05-09T07:15:01.583-07:00Letting her "do her thing"<a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/682690299.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I think we can all agree that the toddler years can be a pretty....<i>challenging</i> time. My two and a half year old is no longer a baby, yet she's not quite a full-fledged kid either. She's becoming a big girl, with big girl emotions, wants, needs, and ideas. Don't get me wrong, we're still in diapers, using a binky, and toting around her favorite blankie everywhere we go, but my sweet little Harper certainly isn't a the chubby, bald baby she once was. She's developed her own silly, sweet, and quirky personality. She's learning to do things on her own and is constantly reminding me that she's the one calling the shots quite often. Sometimes I just have to let her do her thing!</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Doing her thing usually involves being outside, which is her absolute favorite big girl thing to do nowadays. I cannot get this girl inside! She loves to pull her little wagon around and collect rocks, sticks and pine cones.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Eas4_Vun5w/WRDw4HMcr8I/AAAAAAAAICk/PuuRi9vptUMy3uxLwdRRrlbYlN1nF43awCLcB/s640/DSC_0043.png" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XMD6KmBzOno/WRDuGZd-FpI/AAAAAAAAICM/75K9NSgscY8-bJXvqg_DC9dAdReBHTBngCLcB/s640/IMG_0183.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She loves to play with her water table and make mud- she's certainly not afraid to get dirty! I may or may not have caught her eating dirt on more than one occasion as well. When I asked her what she was doing she proudly proclaimed "I eat the dirt, mama!"&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gtc0m0aVho/WRDuL67XYuI/AAAAAAAAICU/mq3sik1vj_0ONEQwHbIH2Gb-g-33z2FKQCLcB/s640/IMG_0232.png" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Now that it's warmed up, playing outside with her big brother and sister is hands down her favorite thing to do. She loves running around and can totally keep up with the big kids! They are so good about including her too.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JM9SGcp1gWI/WRDmEkAvnkI/AAAAAAAAIB4/16c_o90skUwNVgZNbm_H_RlW9h4vYwtTQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0065.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even the rain and snow are no match for her energy. As soon as it starts to rain she grabs her sparkly purple rainboots and stands by the slider yelling "Wow! A big puddle!" She'll stomp around in her too-big boots until she's soaking wet, stopping to catch the rain in her mouth because she's too busy to come inside to get a drink. That would require her to slow down, which never happens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JkrtSjHcV2k/WRDuHBer2OI/AAAAAAAAICQ/mtDacvxorqUhunxpgiMueSQu-WZDJNSGQCLcB/s640/IMG_0009.png" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">When she's too busy doing her thing, I can usually get her to take a brief pause to hand her a bottle of her favorite drink, <b><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b">Fruit Shoot</a></b>. The bottles are durable and are tough enough to withstand my toddler's death grip, and the resealable caps are quick and easy to open. Even for impatient 2 year olds! We've tried other juice boxes and pouches and Harper just can't figure them- she can't open the straws, poke it through the tiny little hole, and her grasp is always to tight and she ends up squeezing it out all over her shirt, pants, shoes, the floor, the couch...everything. It usually ends in an epic meltdown. <b><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b">Fruit Shoots</a></b> are toddler-friendly and approved! Anything that allows her a little independence and frees me up a few extra seconds is a win in my book.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OAXiGCEoj1c/WRDuFWuE4zI/AAAAAAAAICI/OGfnuk0WFZwCtuLYMeWqL-errqIyPLGuQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0033.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3qRTGrYkjzE/WRDuNSCakjI/AAAAAAAAICY/0U4lHeiGX8EoZQMCq7OmcuqR0xrgBTiUgCLcB/s640/IMG_0319.png" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b">Fruit Shoot</a></b> doesn't add sugar to their drinks either, which makes it an easy choice when it comes to keeping her hydrated (because sometimes it's impossible to get her to drink water). I let her do her thing and choose a <b><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b">fun drink</a></b> while she's running out the "evening crazies" in the backyard before bedtime. Where does all of that energy come from?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--O34Yr925lk/WRDmEaLTbAI/AAAAAAAAIB0/ZPd9laPgW681-l8Bwlzgw3cP4lyzlSNNQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0073.png" /></a></div><br />I found <b><a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b">Fruit Shoot</a></b> at my local Fred Meyer and they are a must-have for outside fun and adventures! Find out where to purchase <a href="https://ooh.li/eb6a08b">here</a>.<br /><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-90392817763672531612017-04-03T04:00:00.000-07:002017-04-03T04:00:20.068-07:00Spring is in the air<a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/744582126.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's been a long, cold, wet winter here in the Pacific Northwest, but I think it's finally safe to say that spring has officially sprung. We got a lot of snow this year that lingered for some time. This was our first big winter since moving back to our hometown area- I don't remember having snow all the way into March since I was a kid. Thankfully though, the snow is finally gone for good. Just in time for Spring Break! Not that we have anything big planned- just some family time and maybe a few days spent outside cleaning up the yard, riding bikes, or playing around at the park. We're pretty low-key people, especially with another baby now. I love just spending time with my husband and kids, creating <a href="https://ooh.li/a0a4084">smile worthy moments</a> with my favorite people!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My big kids are spending their first part of spring break at their grandma's house with my sister in law. She's awesome and picked them up for the weekend and has been sending me pictures of what they've been up to.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/a0a4084"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8m4TMh8mXXs/WOF1bhOf0JI/AAAAAAAAIAY/3oR2c9rBFOgTo20yPIN1sgE4so_L-x-WACLcB/s1600/IMG_2855.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy117gE1yFHqVDxzWikhzSNiwqCijxfsKGhyrVo1byiSD5ydRBlz4ERgLIBtRaVZiiLy6JWwSLr1EhUosXQpg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I leave the 4-wheeling and snake catching to her, and I'm thankful she likes to do those kinds of things with my kids...not really my idea of fun but they seem to be having a blast!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Harper has been exploring the backyard a lot, since we finally have a great outdoor space for the kids to play pretty freely. I love letting her get out and play without having to hover over her constantly. I can see the entire yard from the kitchen window and the dining room slider, and I don't have to worry about her getting into trouble or hurting herself. I found her crouched over a little green caterpillar she found in the grass, and then she proudly showed me to where these cute little flowers were just starting to come up and bloom. Of course she picked them all right after that, but it was still adorable.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/a0a4084"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O6iFisVwafo/WOF1c1WkMxI/AAAAAAAAIAc/kSleq17pC5oSjvh3Tzs8QpJ34akJUgKWACLcB/s1600/IMG_2581.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/a0a4084"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tkYOSF3wDiw/WOF1Rmp_02I/AAAAAAAAIAU/nKvtrLVMh08_hWXeNDZ9Pi7mNMfv9GR1ACLcB/s1600/IMG_2388.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I just love this time of year! Spring always makes me happy. I don't even mind the rainstorms because I'm just thankful it's not snow, plus there's always the chance of a rainbow. Does anyone else get really excited when they see a rainbow? Lily pointed out a good one right out our front door just the other day.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/a0a4084"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DX_CpN9cofY/WOF1dYmwAhI/AAAAAAAAIAg/Db4n-ne74LIXZp-JHaHzZNEONiCQ_zbzwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2766.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The warmer weather always puts a smile on my face, which is probably why spring is one of my favorite times of year. Spending time with my kids, relaxing, creating <a href="https://ooh.li/a0a4084">smile worthy moments</a> they will remember well into their adulthood is one of my favorite things. We don't need big plans to enjoy our spring break!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you want some fun, stress-free ideas for keeping your kids entertained head over to the <b><a href="https://ooh.li/a0a4084">Goldfish Pinterest </a></b>page or <b><a href="https://ooh.li/6f6f331">YouTube channel</a></b> for inspiration. Whether it's cute little crafts, fun or educational games, kid-friendly snacks for spring break road trips, or just good ol' yummy snacking ideas, <a href="https://ooh.li/a0a4084">Goldfish</a> has some really creative ideas for keeping your hungry kiddos entertained while they snack.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/a0a4084"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rxC06oAlgmI/WOF51bXNHBI/AAAAAAAAIAs/M0taLFMslakG1rMajByPDEwS33jPxRUlgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0520.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hope you're enjoying your spring, whatever the weather is like in your neck of the woods. What are your fun spring break plans?&nbsp;</div><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center><center><br /></center><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>A big thank you to Goldfish for sponsoring this post! And thank you to all of my readers for supporting the partners that make this little blog possible.</i></div>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-8442181606213974412017-03-13T04:00:00.000-07:002017-03-13T08:32:06.590-07:00Lipstick Lovin- the inside scoop on LipSense<div style="text-align: justify;">As a stay at home mom with an unconventional job, I know what it's like to have to hustle to make extra income on the side. These days, with the internet, social media, blogs, YouTube, etc, the possibilities are endless. If you know how to network and understand the intricate weave of website algorithms, you can make money doing just about anything. I make a modest little side income from this blog, which is good enough for me because I started this out years ago just as a fun hobby and a way to keep our spread out family and friends up to date (before they were all on Facebook). Since I know a lot of people with "unconventional" internet-type jobs as well, I'm always trying to be that supportive friend, just like my friends have always been with me in regards to my blog. They've followed along, commented, shared, and done all that kind of stuff.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That being said, when I saw a bunch of my beauty blogging friends jumping on the latest "bandwagon" a few months ago, I have to admit, I gave some major side-eye.&nbsp;<i>LipSense? What is this $50 lipstick about? Wait, it's supposed to stay on all day? Can I just buy it from a store? No? I have to buy it from you or go to your Facebook party? Whoa, whoa, whoa...hold the phone.</i>&nbsp;It seemed like too much work and I didn't have time to figure out what all the hoopla was about. I did, after all, just have a baby a few months prior, so my lips could wait.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It wasn't until about a month later that I kept seeing LipSense on <a href="http://instagram.com/melissaswenson1">Instagram</a>, and a trusted blog friend started selling and posting about it that I really started paying attention (or maybe coming out of the "baby" fog I had been in). I messaged her right away and told her I needed to try it. She helped me pick out a color- how the heck do you pick out a lip color on the internet without seeing it in person or trying it on? I took a gamble, sent her the money via PayPal, and waited.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When my the pretty, pink envelope arrived 2 days later (quick shipping- love that!) I couldn't wait to rip it open and try it on. I skimmed over the little instruction card that was enclosed and applied it to my lips, not really sure of what I was actually doing because I honestly didn't pay close attention to the detailed instructions. How hard could it be? I slapped a few coats of it on, added the clear gloss, and made a kissy face in the mirror- I loved the color! I chose a really fun, bright, Barbie pink called Fleur De Lisa. I kissed the mirror thought&nbsp;<i>"Yaaaaaaay!"</i>&nbsp;when I saw that my lip color didn't come off. OK, maybe this stuff was legit.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Truth time: a couple of hours later my lips felt kinda dry and wrinkly and I wanted the LipSense off. I knew I probably did something wrong in my speedy, overly confident application, and since I was also a cheapskate and skipped the $10 remover, I had to wrangle&nbsp;up every bottle of makeup remover I owned to see what would work to take off this crazy lipstick. I tried everything I had and nothing worked very well. The darn stuff had some crazy staying power. After about 10 minutes of straight up&nbsp;<u>scrubbing</u>&nbsp;with 2 different makeup removers, I finally got the LipSense off, along with most of the skin on my lips. I immediately messaged my LipSense gal and she was like "Yeah you shouldn't have to scrub! I'll send you the remover ASAP!" What a doll. She also directed me to a video she made showing how to apply LipSense that she posted in her Facebook group (yeah- this is where I'd normally roll my eyes about the Facebook group thing) but I'M SO GLAD I JOINED THE FACEBOOK GROUP! I watched her video and realized that I had put the product on waaaaaaay too thick and didn't allow enough time for it to dry in between coats. The tube of LipSense Ooops Remover arrived 2 days later I tried another go with LipSense again,&nbsp;this time going a little slower and not so heavy handed with the 3 layers of color. I glossed and was immediately hooked. I wore that color all day! And when it was time to take it off, low and behold, their special remover that I insisted I didn't need wiped off all of the color without taking off my skin in the process. Magic!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hW4hLg4CU7o/WMY5csjPQrI/AAAAAAAAH_0/lUU6Vs9X2qEI-3goWwAzc0O8bAwVW-thACLcB/s1600/IMG_1065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hW4hLg4CU7o/WMY5csjPQrI/AAAAAAAAH_0/lUU6Vs9X2qEI-3goWwAzc0O8bAwVW-thACLcB/s640/IMG_1065.JPG" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fast-forward a few weeks and a small fortune spent on LipSense later and I began asking my sweet LipSense friend some burning questions I had about becoming a distributor. In just those short weeks I'd been using it, I started to seeing LipSense all over social media. A few more bloggers that I knew were selling it and talking about how great they were doing financially, how fun it was, and how there were incentives, like trips and cars. I'm a long-time follower of one of these bloggers and I'd just seen her post about being on vacation with her husband somewhere warm and tropical...come to find out it was a PAID FOR trip from doing so well with LipSense! That's when I found out that my own LipSense girl was on track to qualify for a car. A freaking car, can you believe it? Just for selling lipstick. Craziness, right?! Sign me up!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, not quite. I sat on the fence debating whether or not to become a distributor for about a month. I bombarded my poor friend with SO many messages asking everything I could possibly think of about LipSense and the company. I wanted the skinny and I knew she'd give me the truth. She's a mom of 3 little ones, a blogger, and has a lot going on too, and she's been pretty darn successful selling LipSense. She was so sweet and answered all of my questions and agreed that with my experience and people I knew I could be successful as a distributor too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fast-forward another 2 months and here I am, a LipSense distributor! I officially joined at the end of January and I'm so glad I did. I paid just $55 to become a distributor and I've already made my money back, like more than tenfold! I feel like it totally helped me come out of that crazy postpartum phase and has done wonders for my self-esteem again. Selling LipSense forces me to shower, get dressed, and put on makeup- something I was rarely doing just a few months ago because I was home most days with a baby and a toddler. What was the point? Nowadays I'm up, LipSense is on, and I'm taking a selfie if it's a new color I'm trying because I have to show my friends and customers what it looks like if I want to sell it. I feel like it's really helped me reignite that passion I've always had for the beauty industry that had kind of been repressed lately, because, well...hashtag momlife. After four kids, I finally truly understand the struggle!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZQMCgjcsMY/WMY51JORrpI/AAAAAAAAH_4/sVEehlzysdkGZKQJktfIArX6DxMg56cqACLcB/s1600/IMG_1617.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZQMCgjcsMY/WMY51JORrpI/AAAAAAAAH_4/sVEehlzysdkGZKQJktfIArX6DxMg56cqACLcB/s640/IMG_1617.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">OK, so with all this talk of this magical LipSense stuff, some of you might be wonder what the heck it is and why it's so awesome. Here's the 411 on LipSense.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What is LipSense?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lipsense is a long wearing, waterproof, kiss-proof, smudge-proof lip color that wears for up to 18 hours. It's lead-free, wax-free, gluten-free, GMO-free, cruelty-free, and is made in the United States! LipSense is&nbsp;<b>not</b>&nbsp;a lip stain. It molecularly bonds to the lip and is worn with a shea butter gloss that permeates through the color to hydrate your lips while keeping the color on</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sS8RpDrBv04/WMYxuBCZ-OI/AAAAAAAAH-8/6IxXY6OrGTgqnjktS8ePAuDx-psz9XZXACLcB/s1600/IMG_2144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sS8RpDrBv04/WMYxuBCZ-OI/AAAAAAAAH-8/6IxXY6OrGTgqnjktS8ePAuDx-psz9XZXACLcB/s400/IMG_2144.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why do I need a kit?</span>&nbsp;</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">LipSense has 3 products that work together, so first time users will need to purchase a lip kit for their initial purchase. A lip kit comes with a color, the gloss, and the remover. You choose your color and apply it in 3 thin layers, allowing each one to dry for a few seconds in between. Then you seal the color with the Glossy gloss, which is also what hydrates your lips. Finally, to take off LipSense at the end of the day (or touch up any mistakes) you use the Ooops remover.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-1fkb5y0pI/WMY0tn7fxQI/AAAAAAAAH_c/MxyhTVGKZYkUhZ5SbVrzZTSR4i8k0djhgCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252826%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-1fkb5y0pI/WMY0tn7fxQI/AAAAAAAAH_c/MxyhTVGKZYkUhZ5SbVrzZTSR4i8k0djhgCLcB/s400/FullSizeRender%2B%252826%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's a&nbsp;<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/luluandsweetpea/posts/1370901372967466">video I made showing how to apply LipSense</a></b>. There is a slight learning curve to applying it but the video will help a lot. It seems like a process because I'm slowing down and explaining things in the video, but I promise, it only takes about a minute in real life. Once or twice and you'll be a pro.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's why I absolutely love LipSense:</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>1. It stays put.</b>&nbsp;Duh, that's an obvious one, but it's HUGE! I can put on my LipSense before I head out the door and know that it's going to look just as perfect at the end of the day as it did when I first applied it. No lie! I just throw my Glossy gloss in my purse (or diaper bag- #momlife) and regloss when I need a little moisture on my lips, but my color doesn't budge. It survives baby kisses and slobber, endless cups of coffee, eating, touching my face and lips, and everything else motherhood throws my way...all with zero color transfer. Ahhhhmazing!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx7x6DgnqfGEnRRMi8Y8VQdHlaEgAGHmyNRMCKF59ClqIPdpOda9Hom65g3TIvTZ02oBErJvCO4l9W6f2qDmw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>2. I can wear so many different colors.</b>&nbsp;One of the best things about LipSense is I can break out of my comfort zone and wear bold, bright colors that I'd usually shy away from. Normally, I'm a pale pink/nude gloss kind of girl. I have puny lips and lipstick always looks like crap on me after about an hour. Now I can throw on a bold pink or a dark red and rock it with major confidence because I know it's not getting on my teeth or smudging all over my face. Plus, no touch ups! (besides Glossy, but you don't have to look in the mirror for that).&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rhQZ-4Ot9s/WMY51oOGq0I/AAAAAAAAH_8/HCC75QPn0Mo5f8fyHB9quF9K5flOQDK3QCLcB/s1600/IMG_0584.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rhQZ-4Ot9s/WMY51oOGq0I/AAAAAAAAH_8/HCC75QPn0Mo5f8fyHB9quF9K5flOQDK3QCLcB/s640/IMG_0584.PNG" width="478" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>3. Layering.</b>&nbsp;One of the greatest things about LipSense, besides it's staying power, is the fact that you can make so many different shades from just 2 colors! You can customize and mix and match depending on how you layer the colors. Two tubes of LipSense equals 8 different colors!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GIQjIbYZl8g/WMYxvza_noI/AAAAAAAAH_E/ftr0KXtD3-M6uWSxITVasDHteihqTTG5ACEw/s1600/IMG_2339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GIQjIbYZl8g/WMYxvza_noI/AAAAAAAAH_E/ftr0KXtD3-M6uWSxITVasDHteihqTTG5ACEw/s640/IMG_2339.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>4. LipSense makes my dry lips feel better.</b>&nbsp;Seriously you guys, I'm one of those people who always has to have something on her lips or they feel extremely dry and I can't stop obsessing over it. I was a chapstick/EOS lip balm freak, and it's no wonder. Those lip products are full of wax, which doesn't actually moisturize your lips- it just makes you feel like you are because you have something on them. But the moisture wasn't really soaking in, so no matter how much I applied that chapstick like a crazy person, it wasn't doing much for my parched lips. LipSense's Glossy gloss drenches your lips in shea butter and vitamin E. Just say no to waxy lip products.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Sa6goDd6I8/WMYxt1IeBxI/AAAAAAAAH-4/Y3PEdS0no5IILtOs_3jhqlr7OgCpWfP0gCEw/s1600/IMG_2145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Sa6goDd6I8/WMYxt1IeBxI/AAAAAAAAH-4/Y3PEdS0no5IILtOs_3jhqlr7OgCpWfP0gCEw/s400/IMG_2145.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>5. Speaking of ingredients.</b> &nbsp;LipSense is made with really great quality&nbsp;ingredients, while leaving out things the bad stuff, like lead and wax. Some people are quick to point out that it contains alcohol, which you'd think would dry out your lips. This isn't just rubbing alcohol folks. It's SD40 cosmetic grade alcohol, and it's used to help deposit the color molecules on your lips. It also keeps the yucky bacteria out of your tube of LipSense, which is great because 1 tube lasts 4-6 months. Imagine how much is crawling in your lead-filled, waxy lipstick that wears off after an hour. LipSense for the win!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>6. Don't forget the gloss options.</b> There are different gloss finishes to go over any LipSense color, which is a total game-changer in itself! Glosses include traditional, matte, pearl, glitter, diamond, and more. Gloss options are such a fun way to change up any LipSense color! Go for sparkly one day and matte the next. Everything can mix and match so you have soooooo many options.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nf8rwI30cYM/WMY1HrQj-TI/AAAAAAAAH_k/S7LxarOiZE8Qmq-icJyFBC2dVhvq3hxjgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1308.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nf8rwI30cYM/WMY1HrQj-TI/AAAAAAAAH_k/S7LxarOiZE8Qmq-icJyFBC2dVhvq3hxjgCLcB/s400/IMG_1308.PNG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>7. SeneGence rules.</b> SeneGence is the company that owns LipSense, and they have so much more than just magical lipstick that stays on forever. Did you know&nbsp;there is a whole skincare and makeup line as well? All are&nbsp;<b>long-wearing</b>&nbsp;and are made with great quality ingredients, that aren't tested on animals, that and are manufactured in the United States. Plus, this company is great to work for. Their compensation is incredible- so much higher than any other MLM type business I've ever seen. SeneGence is all about helping women start their own business and change their lives. I know so many women out there who have been financially blessed thanks to this company and their products. From paying off debt, to getting cars paid for, to creating a second income in a struggling finacial situation, and to working hard and winning fun trips. It really is a sisterhood too. Everyone is super helpful, encouraging, and genuinely wants the women around them to succeed in this business too. It's crazy but so awesome. I can't even stop gushing you guys. It's seriously fun.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GgBQxLPtpnA/WMYxvHHFkWI/AAAAAAAAH_A/KWmatCDBY7QIqKHZPcgFrtViLEpv5Jg3wCEw/s1600/IMG_2020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GgBQxLPtpnA/WMYxvHHFkWI/AAAAAAAAH_A/KWmatCDBY7QIqKHZPcgFrtViLEpv5Jg3wCEw/s400/IMG_2020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So pretty much what I'm saying is LipSense is awesome and you should try it. I've tried and reviewed a lot of lipsticks and glosses out there, and this one takes the cake- as in you could literally eat an entire cake and your lipstick would still be on point. If you're hesitant about trying it let me put your mind at ease- LipSense comes with a&nbsp;<b>100% money-back guarantee</b>. So if you try it and you don't love it I'll refund your purchase (or trade it for something else if you'd like). So skeptics, fret not, I've got your back. I was you just a few months ago! I totally didn't buy the hype. But there's a reason this product is blowing up- it does what it says it's going to do and people are telling their friends. I'm telling everyone I know because I believe in the product that much and I want to share it with everyone. I love getting messages saying "OMG! I love this stuff! Thank you!" It makes my day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBRtmFo-2Cs/WMYxrsj0CwI/AAAAAAAAH-w/8Dc0YeQYgqEjLD03n1SvnpJCtdRZB0QnACEw/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBRtmFo-2Cs/WMYxrsj0CwI/AAAAAAAAH-w/8Dc0YeQYgqEjLD03n1SvnpJCtdRZB0QnACEw/s640/IMG_1110.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're still a skeptic, I'm here to answer your questions about LipSense and help you choose a color that will look amazing on you. The easiest way to do this is to join my&nbsp;<b><a href="http://facebook.com/groups/lipsticklovin">Facebook group</a></b>. In there you'll find tons of informative stuff on all things LipSense- what it is, how to apply it, different colors, pricing, etc. I'm always posting my updated stock on hand (what I have ready to ship immediately), as well as new colors coming in that are available to pre-order. If you're not on Facebook I'm also on <a href="http://instagram.com/melissaswenson1"><b>Instagram</b></a> and post updates on there too- feel free to comment on a post or DM me and I can usually respond fairly quickly. Or you can also shoot me an email at&nbsp;<b>m.swenson@hotmail.com,</b>&nbsp;or just leave a comment here on the blog.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/LipstickLovin/"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JgYz3TsCMHI/WMYy4nbznkI/AAAAAAAAH_Q/cMJ3oXlIiucLe2goGaramgEVDamjLMxfwCLcB/s400/IMG_0638.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you have any questions at all on how to become a distributor, please comment, message me, or shoot me an email&nbsp;<i>anytime</i>&nbsp;and I'd be happy to give you some information on how it all works and answer any questions you have about it. It's just<b>&nbsp;$55</b>&nbsp;to become a distributor and have access to the 20-50% wholesale discount. There's no monthly minimums, no auto ship, and you only sell what you want to sell. Some girls even sign up just for the personal discount and buy for themselves and a few friends or family members. Or you can hustle and sell to everyone you know and build a team of girls with SeneGence and make some major commission, group bonuses, earn trips, get cars paid for, and much more. The income I'm making selling LipSense is contributing to my family's finances. I paid our car payment the last 2 months in a row, and that's no small feat. We just moved so money is a little tight, and this extra income is helping ease some of the burden from my husband, as he has a lot on his plate besides working overtime to pay for the new bigger house and everything else. I'm able to do this at home with 4 kids! I'm telling you, this is the best decision I've made in a while. Anyone who is interested can sign up now at&nbsp;<b><a href="http://senegence.com/">Senegence.com</a></b>&nbsp;and use my distributor number&nbsp;<b>266314</b>&nbsp;to register. I've already got a few girls on my team and they are doing so well! I'd be happy to help you get started and answer all of your questions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GlYcuhg5irg/WMY021N2GVI/AAAAAAAAH_g/CNoisVSoqnsWJBiQeUf3gbtDn7iPWID4wCLcB/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GlYcuhg5irg/WMY021N2GVI/AAAAAAAAH_g/CNoisVSoqnsWJBiQeUf3gbtDn7iPWID4wCLcB/s640/IMG_1740.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you read all of that then&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;">thank you</span>&nbsp;for letting me share one of my new favorite things!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><center> <img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-43256582965347504282017-03-03T04:00:00.000-08:002017-03-03T04:00:00.195-08:00Life Lately<div style="text-align: justify;">Well hey there...it's been a hot minute since I've updated the ol' blog. Truth be told- it's been a hot mess over here the last few weeks, I'm not going to lie. Between packing, moving, cleaning, unpacking, and switching schools, as well as the everyday life craziness like running errands, dropping off and picking up, cooking, housework, homework, babies, nursing, pumping, diapers, and about a bajillion other things in between, &nbsp;you can see that it's just insanity all the time. It never ends you guys...ever! I haven't sat down in like a month. Seriously. Besides stopping to nurse or pump, rock an upset toddler, or grab a quick bite to eat, I'm pretty much constantly running around like a chicken with its head cut off <i>all day long</i>. It's like all of a sudden life got really, <b>really</b> busy and there aren't enough hours in the day. Hashtag, momlife.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Moving sucks. I think we can all agree here. I've done my fair share of it! I'm like a professional mover now, I swear, what with all of our house-swapping we've done as we've outgrown each of our previous rentals or relocated. This last move was a doozy though. We thought we were prepared, but we had no idea how much crap we had accumulated with four kids, even after calling a junk removal to haul away a truckload said junk from the basement. Even after cleaning out each of the kids' rooms and getting rid of bags of old clothes, bedding, broken toys, and donating boxes upon boxes of unwanted toys, books, and personal items. We thought we downsized. Packing with four kids was pretty much impossible too, so the day before we moved we played a fun game called "let's throw everything in random boxes and garbage bags and call it good." Turns out, it wasn't a very fun game, but it got the job done. Thankfully, my sister in law took the little ones on moving day, but good grief, that was a <i>very</i> long day! We are hoping for this new house to be the <u>last</u> rental house and want to be ready to buy a home when the lease is up. Fingers crossed there's only 1 more move in my future now that we know for sure where we want to be, permanently.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fo6BcOLY8Ns/WLizMNY3mdI/AAAAAAAAH-I/3GNdkxk8EkEO_kGidpmpcWb_YqqLUiutQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1669.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fo6BcOLY8Ns/WLizMNY3mdI/AAAAAAAAH-I/3GNdkxk8EkEO_kGidpmpcWb_YqqLUiutQCLcB/s640/IMG_1669.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now that the moving part is over and done with and we are relatively unpacked, it feels great to be in our new home! There's still a few random boxes sitting around and the walls are still pretty bare at this point, but it's starting to feel more like home every day. The house we were in before was really cute and had tons of charm, but it wasn't very family-friendly. It had virtually no bedroom storage space (IE- tiny bedrooms with teeny closets) with absolutely no linen closets or coat closets, and no storage in the bathrooms or even the laundry room. I felt like our crap was <i>everywhere</i>. Stuff just piled and stacked everywhere instead of being tucked away in a closet, cupboard, or drawer somewhere. I felt suffocated in there after Josiah was born because he didn't have his own bedroom and there just wasn't any extra space to put anything!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The new house is 5 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms, and it has a really great layout for a big family like mine with lots of closet space and tons of room for everyone and everything. Oh, and it has a garage...a huge plus, because the prior house didn't even have a driveway- it was street parking only. Do you know how hard it is to load a baby and a toddler into a minivan with a 2 foot berm of iced over snow you have to climb over? Anyway, the new house is amazing- everyone has their own bedroom and I have a gorgeous master bathroom (and finally a decent closet). Did I also mention it has a 6 person hot tub?! Right off of my bedroom on a private little deck in the backyard. Plus we're in a great little neighborhood and we are really close to friends, family, church, and school.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While we're on the subject of school, moving put us into a different school district (and technically a new city- we're in the suburbs now), so the kids started their new schools. I say schools with an "s" because Ayden just got bumped into middle school, so he and Lily no longer go to school together. This is huge, you guys! He's a 6th grader, and before, our elementary schools were K-6 and Jr High was 7-8. Well the new school district's elementary is K-5 and middle school is 6-8, so my baby jumped into middle school overnight! I was so not ready for that! When I realized that I think I started to panic a little...I wasn't expecting him to be a big kid until next year. I asked the kids if they wanted me to drive them to their old school every day for the rest of the year, and they both said no and were kind of excited to start over at new schools in their new neighborhood and make some new friends. Ayden was actually excited to start middle school, so I think once I saw his calmness and readiness for it, I calmed down a little bit too. We had quite a few conversations about how school was going to change and his new school did a great job of helping prepare him for his first week. Thankfully, he took to his new school really quickly and he loves it so far. I think he was totally ready for middle school and he likes the little bit of "freedom" it might give him, like not having to walk to &amp; from school with his little sister. Lily loves her new school as well and of course, she's already made a ton of friends being the little social butterfly that she is. Both kids have completely different start and end times for school, and while Ayden can ride a bus, Lily can't (we live too close) so I have to do the dreaded drop-off and pick-up routine again. I haven't had to do that in years!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With all of this craziness going on, I decided to add to it and started selling <a href="http://facebook.com/groups/lipsticklovin"><b>LipSense</b></a>. If you haven't heard of LipSense, it's this amazing long-wearing, waterproof, kiss-proof, smudge-proof lipstick that wears for up to 18 hours! I'd seen it all over Instagram and finally decided to try it for myself when a friend of mine started selling it. Long story short, I spent a small fortune on LipSense and quickly realized the potential of selling the product myself! I personally know a few girls who are making a killing and are getting free trips, cars (yes, cars!), and tons of product all while playing around and posting selfies on Facebook and Instagram and selling magical lipstick on the internet. No, seriously! I'm planning on writing a blog post dedicated to all things LipSense very soon, so stay tuned for that. If you want to check it out, learn more, or buy some you can join my <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/LipstickLovin/">Facebook group</a></b> or message me on <a href="http://facebook.com/luluandsweetpea">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://instagram.com/melissaswenson1">Instagram</a>! If you're interested in selling LipSense I can help you with that as well!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RaUtEPZ_47s/WLi0g4m9RqI/AAAAAAAAH-c/tavX5HhiwgESpXW_HRIeuXRrqUcT8qADgCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252822%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RaUtEPZ_47s/WLi0g4m9RqI/AAAAAAAAH-c/tavX5HhiwgESpXW_HRIeuXRrqUcT8qADgCLcB/s400/FullSizeRender%2B%252822%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HrGxGTQIsjk/WLiyRo_S7tI/AAAAAAAAH-E/MLzFROrdNbAInJ2s8dT4KAxBbh3ye8IFgCLcB/s1600/IMG_1009.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HrGxGTQIsjk/WLiyRo_S7tI/AAAAAAAAH-E/MLzFROrdNbAInJ2s8dT4KAxBbh3ye8IFgCLcB/s400/IMG_1009.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DdHtYSILidE/WLi0gE5Lz6I/AAAAAAAAH-Q/Uu3no81Q2K4AHSnv8UjbZ-EH5QC21MmTQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1961.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DdHtYSILidE/WLi0gE5Lz6I/AAAAAAAAH-Q/Uu3no81Q2K4AHSnv8UjbZ-EH5QC21MmTQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1961.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Wednesday we celebrated Lily's 9th birthday and Josiah turned 6 months old! We picked up dinner to go, because babies, and enjoyed a yummy cheesecake assortment- Lily's choice for her birthday cake. She's so grown up looking now and is really turning into a beautifully sweet girl, inside and out. Josiah's cuteness almost makes up for that cry that still wakes me up 3-4+ times a night. Josiah, I love you dearly, sweet boy, but I wish you'd figure out the sleep thing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZyMXZKkC7Q/WLi0gjp-T3I/AAAAAAAAH-U/uhH1xjSXSqA0_GRxA5GoigFCrRMEqpL3wCLcB/s1600/IMG_1944%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZyMXZKkC7Q/WLi0gjp-T3I/AAAAAAAAH-U/uhH1xjSXSqA0_GRxA5GoigFCrRMEqpL3wCLcB/s640/IMG_1944%2B%25281%2529.png" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And with that, baby boy's cries bring naptime to a crashing halt, so I better wrap up this "little" update. I'll try not to let so much time go by before the next one!&nbsp;</div><br /><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-86916822964068455262017-02-12T17:09:00.000-08:002017-02-12T23:12:10.277-08:00How supplementing with formula saved my mom sanity<a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/459917727.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm no stranger to fussy babies. My two girls were both colicky, gassy, and overall pretty unhappy babies until they eventually grew out of it around six months of age. Of course, there were tricks to soothing them, like baby wearing, swaddling, burping, and letting them sleep in a swing, but it was still a pretty unpleasant experience for the entire family when one of our babies went through the colicky newborn stage. I didn't realize it could get worse.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Baby number four took fussiness to a whole new level. From the second night at home, I knew he was going to be an extremely difficult baby boy. I couldn't even sleep in the same room as him because he was so loud- constantly grunting, squirming, crying, and waking to snack all night and all day. The grunting...oh the grunting! Josiah was and still is the gassiest baby I've ever been around, so his loud grunts would drive me insane. It would wake me up at night from the other room. He needed to be burped so frequently and forcefully or he'd wail in agony from trapped gas in his tummy. He was a snacker, only wanting to nurse for a few minutes and then wake up after an hour or two around the clock with no regard for whether it was day or night. It was maddening!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After months of constant crying and fussing, the extreme fatigue was wearing on me. My stress level was through the roof and my milk supply was dwindling. I had a bit of postpartum anxiety going on too and I'm sure my raging hormones weren't helping the situation either. After weeks of trying everything I could to increase my milk supply, I realized that I was going to need to supplement my breast milk with some formula too. Luckily for Josiah, I knew which one I was going to use: <a href="https://ooh.li/5a7ffe9">GERBER® Good Start® Soothe</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TIqyB_iuAD8/WKD888pswiI/AAAAAAAAH9g/EIHiupPazdsARdwWJiyMKNq5t26F0VJDgCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252819%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TIqyB_iuAD8/WKD888pswiI/AAAAAAAAH9g/EIHiupPazdsARdwWJiyMKNq5t26F0VJDgCLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252819%2529.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://ooh.li/5a7ffe9">GERBER® Good Start® Soothe Infant Formula</a> contains L. reuteri,&nbsp;a probiotic that is naturally found in breast milk, and is specially designed to ease excessive crying, colic, and fussiness while providing complete nutrition.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://ooh.li/5a7ffe9">GERBER® Soothe Probiotic Colic Drops</a> also contain L. reuteri. Research indicates that the type of bacteria in an infant's intestine may determine whether a child is colicky, and probiotics can support a balance of good bacteria in their digestive tract. While it's not intended to cure or treat any disease, it has been clinically shown to reduce crying time in colicky breastfed infants! <i>I received a free sample of GERBER® Soothe probiotic Colic Drops from Gerber. My thoughts and opinions are my own.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fast forward one month and we are now inching closer and closer to Josiah being six months old (which is crazy!), and he's getting out of that difficult "newborn" stage. He's a much happier baby now that he's grown out of the colic and his digestive system is a little more mature (though he is still pretty gassy- I guess he's just a stinker). I'm still supplementing my milk with <a href="https://ooh.li/5a7ffe9">GERBER® Good Start® Soothe</a> and I couldn't be happier with my decision. I mean, look at those chubby cheeks! We're all much happier and we're finally sleeping (a little) at night now too.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dx0QsmRpRiY/WKEFbzlaI8I/AAAAAAAAH90/nBxZTkgIg7kIT1eiwxWwQDBEAt_E1CaTACLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252820%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dx0QsmRpRiY/WKEFbzlaI8I/AAAAAAAAH90/nBxZTkgIg7kIT1eiwxWwQDBEAt_E1CaTACLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%252820%2529.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Have you had a colicky baby before? What's your formula for happiness? Just know that you are not alone&nbsp;and that there is hope out there. Consider a probiotic like GERBER® Soothe Probiotic Colic Drops or GERBER® Good Start® Soothe Infant Formula. Gerber also has some great experts available (registered dietitians, certified lactation consultants, and certified baby sleep consultants) to answer any of your questions! You can find out more about excessive crying, colic, and fussiness <a href="https://ooh.li/5a7ffe9">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><center style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-1961010931569632442017-01-30T04:00:00.000-08:002017-01-30T04:00:08.614-08:00Beauty and the Beast 2017 collection from Gelish MINI & Morgan Taylor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Hey dolls! I haven't started a blog post like that in a while, but I couldn't resist because I am so flippin' excited about what I'm about to show you. How many of you ladies out there are excited for the new live-action Beauty and the Beast movie? The one with Emma Watson as Belle? (ahhhhh&nbsp;she's perfect! I just love her!) I've been dying to see it since it was first announced like two years ago because I've got a soon-to-be 9-year-old daughter who used to be (and kind of still is) a huge Disney Princess fan. What a sweet little movie date it's going to make for her and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">In correlation with the new movie, Gelish MINI and Morgan Taylor are launching their enchanting spring Beauty and the Beast 2017 collection, and it's absolutely stunning! This is so exciting because whether you're a gel polish fan or if you tend to stick to regular nail polish you can still rock this lovely collection. Everyone knows I'm obsessed with gel polish and I knew Gelish MINI wouldn't let me down. Remember the <a href="http://www.luluandsweetpea.com/2015/03/gelish-cinderella-spring-2015-review.html">spring 2015 collection</a> for the live-action Cinderella movie? Those were gorgeous. So when the lovely people at Gelish MINI and Morgan Taylor sent me a little box full of goodies I did a little happy dance! Look at these beauties.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5yC1hNQPMdU/WIvRzrs1-mI/AAAAAAAAH8Y/AzSs9_aXJPoWWMwfWDAhTLwsf10Fg58ZwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0723a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5yC1hNQPMdU/WIvRzrs1-mI/AAAAAAAAH8Y/AzSs9_aXJPoWWMwfWDAhTLwsf10Fg58ZwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0723a.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXo22nXCQD4/WIvTu18A-GI/AAAAAAAAH8o/1TiPXkc_bbwwOeex0_wdYUlvL4PFzBNeACLcB/s1600/DSC_0714.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HXo22nXCQD4/WIvTu18A-GI/AAAAAAAAH8o/1TiPXkc_bbwwOeex0_wdYUlvL4PFzBNeACLcB/s1600/DSC_0714.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Romance lights the way...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This collection is filled with dreamy shades in red pears and pink and baby blue cremes. Whimsical is a good way to describe it...anyone who wears these will feel like the Belle of the ball. The CEO and Founder of Gelish and Morgan Taylor says "It's extremely wonderful to collaborate with Disney again and create this collection for the movie. We wanted to be honorable guests of this beloved and classic story by developing colors that reflect the beauty that comes from within."</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Let's take a closer peek at these swoon-worthy shades, shall we?&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8gxQ0pyBJg/WIvR0JzcMeI/AAAAAAAAH8c/FFq7C1GCG5ohEOQQqe_kuw2VN9ecWOcvQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0733.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8gxQ0pyBJg/WIvR0JzcMeI/AAAAAAAAH8c/FFq7C1GCG5ohEOQQqe_kuw2VN9ecWOcvQCLcB/s1600/DSC_0733.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">From left to right, adorn yourself in these enchanted shades:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li><b>The Last Petal</b>- Red Pearl</li><li><b>Be Our Guest</b>- Pink Creme</li><li><b>Plumette With Excitement</b>- Pale Pink Creme</li><li><b>Days In The Sun</b>- Yellow</li><li><b>Gaston And On And On</b>- Baby Blue Creme</li><li><b>Potts Of Tea</b>- Alabaster</li><li><b>Enchanted Patina</b>- Specialty Patina Overlay (Morgan Taylor exclusive only)&nbsp;</li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ziUlTIYEQ8o/WI52L0hCV1I/AAAAAAAAH9M/8NfUlpJDxYUKmvJhJ7DZHwcO039ltVtSwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0718a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ziUlTIYEQ8o/WI52L0hCV1I/AAAAAAAAH9M/8NfUlpJDxYUKmvJhJ7DZHwcO039ltVtSwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0718a.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I have to say that when I started swatching these colors on the nail sticks, I may have squealed with joy just a little bit. I thought they looked pretty in the bottles, but that didn't really do them justice. I used the Gelish MINI gel polish to do my swatching and I was quite pleased with the consistency and coverage they provided. Sometimes the lighter gel colors tend to be a little opaque and streaky but that wasn't the case with these at all. Days In The Sun (yellow) and Potts of Tea (alabaster) were probably my two favorites because of their iridescent, pearly hues, but both of them required an extra two coats to give really good coverage and not look see-through. This wasn't a huge deal to me because they are simply gorgeous- Days In The Sun reminded me of Belle's golden yellow ballgown she wore in the movie, and Potts Of Tea perfectly matched the color of Mrs. Potts! You just have to see this collection in person. It's stunning!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I can't wait to actually try this collection on my own nails! I seriously <i>just </i>did my nails the day before these beauties made their way to my house, so I haven't had a chance to actually try them on yet. I can't even decide which one I'd wear first. When I make a decision I'll be sure to share some pictures with you all. Make sure to follow me on <a href="http://instagram.com/MelissaSwenson1">Instagram</a> and <a href="http://facebook.com/luluandsweetpea">Facebook</a> (I post a lot of sneak peeks and behind the scenes stuff, so I know some of you already caught my live unboxing I shared on my Instagram story last week!)<br /><center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;"><div style="padding: 8px;"><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"><div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BPv1cENAWbu/" style="color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Swatched the new Beauty and the Beast Collection from @gelishmini and I'm in LOVE! That iridescent white is the exact same color as Mrs. Potts! And the yellow for Belle's gown is spot on! I love every single color in this limited edition collection (available next month) #prsample</a></div><div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A video posted by LipSense Distributor #266314 (@melissaswenson1) on <time datetime="2017-01-27T00:18:25+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 26, 2017 at 4:18pm PST</time></div></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br /></center>I'm hoping to do a full review with more swatches of all the colors later to come here on the blog, and I may or may not be planning a fun little giveaway...so check back for that.</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The Beauty and the Beast 2017 collection from Gelish MINI and Morgan Taylor will be available for a limited time beginning February 2017. Gelish will be available for $12.99 at <a href="http://sallybeauty.com/">Sally Beauty</a>. Morgan Taylor will be available for $9.00 at <a href="http://morgantaylorlacquer.com/">MorganTaylorLacquer.com</a>.&nbsp;</div><br />Don't forget, if you need some gel nail tutorials I've got you covered! Check out my gel nail series for some of the best, most detailed, picture heavy tutorials out there.<br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.luluandsweetpea.com/2013/01/diy-gel-nails-at-home.html">DIY Gel Nails</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.luluandsweetpea.com/2013/03/diy-gel-nail-removal.html">Gel Nail Removal</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.luluandsweetpea.com/2014/10/easy-at-home-gel-french-manicure.html">DIY gel french manicure</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.luluandsweetpea.com/2013/05/how-to-fill-or-refresh-your-at-home-gel.html">How to fill or refresh gel nails</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.luluandsweetpea.com/2014/05/how-to-repair-chipped-gel-nail.html">How to fix a chipped gel nail</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.luluandsweetpea.com/2014/03/changing-your-gel-color-without-soaking.html">How to change your gel color w/o soaking them off</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.luluandsweetpea.com/2014/03/hot-pink-glitter-gel-manicure.html">Embedding loose glitter in gel nails</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>I was given these products free of charge from Gelish MINI and Morgan Taylor for reviewing purposes. All opinions are, as always, my own.</i></div>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-6912282272410238602017-01-24T21:35:00.002-08:002017-01-24T21:35:51.096-08:00Winter Adventures <a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/712722766.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Jumping off of my last post, today I'm talking about more winter fun. I don't know about anyone else, but I struggle with the word "fun" in the winter because it's always cold, wet, and dreary. It's so hard to find the fun in that, besides Christmas, and sometimes we have to get really creative when it comes to entertaining ourselves when you're snowed in or when it's too crummy out to do anything. Add a bunch of kids to the mix and you've got a recipe for disaster, so my older kids and I sat down and put our heads together and made a list of fun, free, or really cheap things we could do to fight winter boredom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/de6b9c4"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vW7N0QnYJH8/WIgw_bunJ5I/AAAAAAAAH8A/6A8_GnjcPLMs6He69v70_LnxW7UFAt_XACLcB/s1600/20161226_122455winteradventures.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hit up your local library. My kids and I love going to the library, and not just for books. They get to browse magazines, check out DVDs, and play educational computer games. We also like to take a peek at the library's schedule for free community events. We've gone to magic shows, carnival nights, and a mini reptile exhibit at our local library and it was all free for any kids and parents who wanted to attend. If you have preschoolers or toddlers you should see if your location does a weekly or bi-weekly storytime. I took my two oldest to storytime almost every week when they were little and they loved it! They'd also sing songs and play little games and get the kids to participate and interact with each other. The library has so many great free services so be sure to look at their schedule (you can usually find it on their website too).&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Visit a children's museum. Another favorite of ours. Years ago, we invested in a pass to our local children's museum and it was money well spent when you considered how often we went. You can also purchase day passes for fairly cheap, and if you've never been, you should ask about a free day pass for first-time guests to check it out. Some places offer that!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Go to a matinee. Or see what's playing at a nearby discount theater. Sometimes they play some really cool older movies, and the snacks are generally cheaper too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Visit your local YMCA. Check out their schedule for free or really cheap events, family movies nights, open swim, game nights, etc that are open to the community, not just Y members. You can also get free day passes if you take a tour and inquire about a membership. We did that and swam in the pool and did the rock climbing wall before deciding to become members (they offer discounts for military families and there is a sliding scale option for memberships based on your family size and income, so ask!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Get outside. Build a snowman, grab some Tupperware&nbsp;and make an igloo, go sledding, or play on the playground with your snow pants on! A lot of kids get super bored and really antsy being cooped up inside and not being able to burn off the energy their little bodies need to expel. Bundle up and get outside. Make sure to bring a snack and a drink to stay hydrated!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/de6b9c4"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kzfNVNLHOYk/WIgyHV_8s3I/AAAAAAAAH8E/lalq-3q0WEgvhmeaA8k6DA_32zuakkAZgCLcB/s640/DSC_0694.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My kids love <b><a href="https://ooh.li/11c04c0">Fruit Shoot</a></b>, which has teamed up with Pizza Hut for a great cause- children's literacy. Right now, every <a href="https://ooh.li/11c04c0">Fruit Shoot</a> purchase at Pizza Hut will support the <a href="https://ooh.li/ad0a53b">First Book literacy program</a> and help get more books into the hands of children. So make one of your winter adventures a trip to Pizza Hut and help support this great program! You can also find out which of your local grocers carries Fruit Shoot by going <b><a href="https://ooh.li/11c04c0">here</a></b>.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What are your favorite fun winter adventures? We need some more ideas because this snow is just not letting up anytime soon!&nbsp;</div><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center><center><br /></center><center style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Open Sans&quot;; font-size: x-small; text-align: justify;">A big thank you to Fruit Shoot brand for sponsoring this post! And thank you to all of my readers for supporting the partners that make this little blog possible.</i></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-77112670683575024392017-01-11T14:52:00.002-08:002017-01-11T14:52:36.091-08:00Snow day fun [5 ways to beat cabin fever when you're snowed in]<a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/686619959.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Snow day</i>...now there's a phrase that can strike fear into a mother's heart. It started snowing here last week, and it's been dumping buckets of huge, fluffy, white flakes on us every day since then with no signs of slowing down anytime soon! With about a foot of snow on the ground, I got that dreaded call at 5am on Monday morning. It was the school district telling me school was canceled...meaning SNOW DAY. Why, hello Monday, what a nice wake-up call. I was completely unprepared. What was I going to do with 4 kids all day while we were snowed in? Normally I'd send them outside to build a snowman or something, but with temperatures hovering in the teens, I figured outside play wasn't an option. Here are a few of our favorite tried &amp; true snow day activities!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/d6146ae"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X5mkD_cXX5k/WHazGa_UC-I/AAAAAAAAH7k/qlpXNG4IDxEYon-7A1W5h_rIZrW86PC2gCLcB/s1600/DSC_0685.png" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Game time.</b> I love me a good old fashioned board game, but any game will do. Of course, my big kids love video games (which I'm fine with, in moderation), but board games, cards, checkers, dominoes, and charades are great options for snow days too.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Arts and crafts.</b> Get out the crayons and coloring books for the little ones and grab some markers, glue, scissors, paint, construction paper, glitter, etc. for the older kids and make something crafty. Better yet, grab some coffee filters or white paper and show them how to make snowflakes by folding and cutting. Hang them up in the windows and on the walls and make it a snow day inside too!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/d6146ae"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5Os_LKO1Q4/WHazGFkwGCI/AAAAAAAAH7g/XhsvD8p26qEoTdxxuyRMtYt6CY82YCToQCLcB/s640/DSC_0512a.png" width="481" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Curl up with a good book.</b> If you're looking for a more quiet activity, books are the way to go. My kids love to read so this is an easy one for us! Grab a fuzzy blanket, a book, and maybe even hope it leads to a nap too.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Build a fort.</b> Take the cushions off the couch and grab some big sheets or comforters and have your kiddos help you transform your living room into an awesome fort! This usually occupies mine for a few hours, as they are constantly finding new, creative ways to keep their fort from collapsing and they are always trying to expand and make it bigger/better. It really gets their brains going!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Make it a movie day.</b> When all else fails, pop in your favorite family movie, grab some yummy snacks, and pile on the couch (or in your fort) together for a movie day. Our go-to snack of choice is always <a href="https://ooh.li/d6146ae">Goldfish crackers</a>! I love them because they are baked with real cheese and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives, and my kids love them because...well, they're yummy. <a href="https://ooh.li/d6146ae">Goldfish crackers</a> are a staple in this house and they are a snack I can feel good about feel good about giving my kids. I love them too!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Need another fun snow day activity? How about a chance to win $5,000? Help your kids create a fun stop-motion video featuring Goldfish crackers and <b><a href="https://ooh.li/d6146ae">submit it here</a></b> for your chance to win! Never made a stop-motion video before? Don't worry, there's plenty of inspiration <b><a href="https://ooh.li/d6146ae">here</a></b> and a fun tutorial <b><a href="https://ooh.li/d6146ae">here</a></b> to help you get started! Check out <a href="https://ooh.li/d6146ae">GoldfishSmiles.com</a> for more contest details.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/d6146ae"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n9tH-bhIDFs/WHa0svLL17I/AAAAAAAAH7w/wSPVKYv2NBU6CKuLpaYCF3zPmGQBo-e4wCLcB/s1600/goldfish.png" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">What's your favorite thing about snow days? What do you do when you're snowed in? I'd love to hear your ideas because this snow is not letting up!&nbsp;</div></div><br /><center> <img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center><center><br /></center><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>A big thank you to Goldfish brand for sponsoring this post! And thank you to all of my readers for supporting the partners that make this little blog possible.</i></span></div>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-32222549557287970402017-01-05T12:36:00.002-08:002017-01-05T12:36:20.709-08:00Two in diapers [how to save your sanity + money!]<a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/723601874.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">When I found out I was pregnant with baby number four, one of the first thoughts that went through my head was <i>"I'm going to have two kids in diapers at the same time."</i> My entire pregnancy I kept thinking about how expensive it was going to be. I thought that maybe I'd be able to potty train Harper before Josiah was born. When that didn't happen I started to panic. <i>Two in diapers</i>. How much was this going to cost? The math was daunting. I wasn't sure how I was going to manage changing that many diapers in a day, let alone keep enough stocked in the house so I wouldn't run out, all while on a budget. We're now four months into this baby and a toddler thing and I've learned a thing or two about having two kids in diapers at the same time. Here's how I saved my sanity!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Stock up &amp; save.</b> My biggest piece of advice when it comes to buying diapers for two is to stock up. First of all, you save money because buying in bulk is always cheaper. Sam's Club has the absolute best deal to help build your diaper stockpile with their new biggest pack ever of <a href="https://ooh.li/7920cfb">Huggies® Little Movers</a> diapers. This gigantic box is a full 2 month supply! Which brings me to my second point- stocking up saves time. No more running out to the store every week when you run out of diapers. No more asking my husband to swing by the store and pick up a small pack of diapers after work (thus spending more on extra trips to the grocery store). No more bundling up in freezing weather with all 4 kids and a cranky baby when I run out of diapers in the middle of the week. I don't know about you, but running errands with two little ones is something I absolutely dread, so stocking up on a two month supply of&nbsp;<a href="https://ooh.li/7920cfb">Huggies®</a><a href="https://ooh.li/7920cfb">&nbsp;Little Movers</a>&nbsp;is the way to go!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/7920cfb"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m_cCwXUlUp0/WG6iJgb1EKI/AAAAAAAAH6s/LtSiU74XEQ437PHckjE5W5iTHyuQd8SOACLcB/s1600/DSC_0679.png" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Change them at the same time. </b>When I can, I try to change both kids at the same time. Obviously, this isn't going to be the case for every single diaper change, but most times if I'm changing the toddler I should probably change the baby too, and vice versa. Otherwise, I find myself making dinner wondering and wondering if Harper had her diaper changed after her nap 3 hours ago. These kids keep me so busy I can't keep anything straight, so getting both done at the same time totally saves my sanity.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Make multiple changing stations.</b> I find myself changing diapers all over the house. On the living room floor, on the changing table in the baby room, on my bed in the middle of the night, etc. I hate having to run back and forth to get the diapers and wipes every time, so making a little changing station with all of the necessary supplies in every room is a must! I keep a little basket in the living room with diapers, wipes, rash cream, lotion, hand sanitizer, extra pacifiers, burp cloths, nail clippers, and other essentials. I also keep a little stack of diapers, wipes, and hand sanitizer in Harper's room and in my bedroom too so that I'm not running up and down the stairs in the middle of the night when the baby wakes up.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One last tip: when you're stocking up on diapers and prefer to avoid lines and crowds at the store with children in tow, <a href="https://ooh.li/28f1d42">Sam's Club</a> has your back. Another perk of the <a href="https://ooh.li/28f1d42">Sam's Club membership</a> is FREE shipping on select baby and household items. Right now, the Huggies® Little Movers 2 month supply has a <b><a href="https://ooh.li/7920cfb">$6 instant savings coupon</a></b> that works in stores and online and will ship it right to your door for FREE! That's 312 diapers for less than 20 cents a piece! To find your nearest Sam's Club and get this $6 instant savings coupon <b><a href="https://ooh.li/3acdf77">go here</a></b>! Save your sanity and your money and stock up with the biggest pack ever.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/7920cfb"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tp2fowENssg/WG6iNWn-ocI/AAAAAAAAH6w/Gnvbg-6DuK4jArZlTzOUHH0fRAsMeZ03wCLcB/s400/huggies1.png" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><center> <img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A big thank you to&nbsp;<span style="text-align: justify;">Huggies®</span>&nbsp;for sponsoring this post! And thank you to all of my readers for supporting the partners that make this blog possible.</span></i></div>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-37275163073261412492017-01-02T16:08:00.001-08:002017-01-02T16:08:03.594-08:00Looking ahead<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DysBA0fVC5M/WGrihm65ReI/AAAAAAAAH6E/z5WH1BfDThQodTbb_tPkSIhphRY1glNhACLcB/s1600/SF_JPEG_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DysBA0fVC5M/WGrihm65ReI/AAAAAAAAH6E/z5WH1BfDThQodTbb_tPkSIhphRY1glNhACLcB/s640/SF_JPEG_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas season and rang in the new year with friends and loved ones. I decided to take the entire month of December off from blogging so that I could relax and spend some stress-free time with my own family and I'm so glad that I did. It's no secret that I've been feeling a tad bit overwhelmed, what with the new baby and all. I needed some time to unplug and just be a mom for a while and not worry about creating content for my blog and trying to meet deadlines. Here's why.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A few weeks ago I ended up going in to see my doctor. I've been under a ton of stress lately and I'm just not handling it very well at all. Josiah is 4 months old now and is still a horrible sleeper who wakes up every 2 hours every night. Most days he's a horrible napper too, only giving me 20-30 minutes to try to shower, throw in a load of laundry, make dinner, etc. It's been awful. On top of that, my rambunctious 2 1/2 year old&nbsp;is doing this awesome thing where she screams at the top of her lungs when you don't do what she wants, so while I'm juggling an unhappy baby, I also have what sounds like a pterodactyl following me around screeching at me. Fun times! Anywho, my doctor confirmed that I have some postpartum anxiety and depression going on and I'm trying to do what I can to lower the stress in my life. My husband suggested I quit or take a break from blogging and I begrudgingly agreed. Blogging has become more of a chore to me lately as my lifestyle and family size has changed and grown over the years. When I first started blogging I was just a bored stay at home mom with 2 really easy little kids and a ton of free time on my hands. Life was much simpler back then and I had time for things I enjoyed and had all kinds of time to work on my blog. Nowadays not so much. The amount of children I have has doubled and our lives have become so much more crazy and hectic as a family of six. Gone are the days when I actually had time to sit on my sewing machine for hours, whip up a craft, or read for fun. Now I have absolutely zero time for anything that isn't related to housework or keeping a child alive. Add trying to run a blog to that and you've got one stressed out mom-zilla and a husband and four kids who are sick of being yelled at. So the break was much-needed.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, as much as I loved my little work vacay, I also missed it. I've been doing this for so long now that it feels weird not to do it. I still have ideas in my head that I want to get out. I really enjoy writing my feelings out...it's so freeing. I love sharing my thoughts with other people. I just love to talk, really. Anyone who knows me knows I talk a lot. I'm wordy. And I love the little blogging community that I'm a part of. So while I was on my break I decided that I'm not ready to give it all up just yet. I'm going to continue to blog, but maybe not quite at the fervent pace I was once at. Trying to keep up with the old me and my old blog is silly because I'm not the same person I was back then, nor am I in the same mentality. I need to refocus a little and set my pace for the new normal and just be OK with that.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZOJgH14qDA/WGrqQKzELsI/AAAAAAAAH6c/hSNbeqXwGbMaPbOIOhbu1umJIHugkDCjgCLcB/s1600/5275D9E9-3992-40A1-9858-899D0E8B9997.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZOJgH14qDA/WGrqQKzELsI/AAAAAAAAH6c/hSNbeqXwGbMaPbOIOhbu1umJIHugkDCjgCLcB/s1600/5275D9E9-3992-40A1-9858-899D0E8B9997.png" /></a></div>That being said, I can't wait to see what 2017 has in store for me. Goodbye, 2016! Thanks for the new squishy baby boy, but I'm all set now ;)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSqMmJJOICQ/WGrphWwPnvI/AAAAAAAAH6U/T7MfFzU25woQpqJgjSu_j4XyPmseUhI1wCLcB/s1600/IMG_0210%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bSqMmJJOICQ/WGrphWwPnvI/AAAAAAAAH6U/T7MfFzU25woQpqJgjSu_j4XyPmseUhI1wCLcB/s1600/IMG_0210%2B%25281%2529.png" /></a></div><br /></div></div><center> <img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-35334129530197490952016-11-21T14:06:00.000-08:002016-11-21T14:20:28.565-08:00For the Lovely Beards in your life <a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/971920351.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Guess what? The holiday season is sneaking up on us. Thanksgiving is just a few days away and then Christmas will be in full swing. I told myself that <i>this year</i> I would start my shopping early and have all of the presents wrapped and nestled under the tree by Black Friday. Spoiler alert: that didn't happen. It might have something to do with the tiny, screaming baby boy who's been keeping me up all night, or it could just be that I'm a huge procrastinator. But alas, I've hardly made a dent in my Christmas shopping.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, I don't know about you, but I absolutely LOVE buying gifts for people. I'd buy gifts all year round if I could afford it. However, the one person I'm always stumped on is my husband. Even after 13 years together I have no idea what to get the man every year at Christmas. He's so hard to shop for! I mean, it's not like I don't know what he likes. I do! He just doesn't need much, and the things he wants are expensive (<i>sorry honey, I can't afford that new guitar you've had your eye on</i>).&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pi_fz5QEMac/WDNwOuurvhI/AAAAAAAAH5s/1mnos8rUM30AvfAjDQQUvMXlPJ7QvOc0wCLcB/s1600/SF_JPEG_16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pi_fz5QEMac/WDNwOuurvhI/AAAAAAAAH5s/1mnos8rUM30AvfAjDQQUvMXlPJ7QvOc0wCLcB/s640/SF_JPEG_16.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>{Photo by J Lynn Photography}</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year, I'm changing things up. I'm not going to rack my brain thinking of some "big" present to get him. I'm keeping it simple- I'm going to stuff the best stocking he's ever seen. Most of it will be fun little treats, trinkets, and treasures...but the shining star of his stocking this year is going to be these luxurious products from <b><a href="https://ooh.li/10d2e40">Lovely Beards</a></b>. After all, he does have a pretty good beard going on most of the year.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/10d2e40"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-au3lF6R2ktU/WDNs6mbzqFI/AAAAAAAAH5Y/3pgpgEef_zEKV59p3n6u-t0O-I1jY-JbgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0638.png" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: justify;">With seven scents to choose from, I made the tough call and went with </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://ooh.li/10d2e40"><span id="goog_91550399"></span>Vanilla &amp; Sandalwood<span id="goog_91550400"></span></a></b><span style="text-align: justify;"> beard balm and oil. The smell is light and refreshing without being overwhelming- perfect for when I'm running my hands through his scruffy beard. You can find the rest of the scents </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://ooh.li/10d2e40">here</a></b><span style="text-align: justify;">...which one is your favorite?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/10d2e40"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z7_zBapVHl0/WDNs6IP5trI/AAAAAAAAH5U/djjKphy5X7gxokO008dmO-nhMCgsDm1IwCLcB/s1600/DSC_0651.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All <b><a href="https://ooh.li/10d2e40">Lovely Beards</a></b> products are 100% organic and are made in the USA. Better yet, they come with free shipping! (a real deal-breaker for me...you guys know I can't bear to spend extra money on shipping).&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://ooh.li/10d2e40">Lovely Beards</a></b> products make a great stocking stuffer for the bearded man in your life, whether it's your husband, father, brother, uncle, friend, or co-worker you randomly drew from your office gift exchange.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/10d2e40"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfA7MwO2rPI/WDNtdJAP1tI/AAAAAAAAH5c/Gq6f0K7MY-YxXmnYMyaQB1KDdrIzXeb-wCLcB/s1600/DSC_0661.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can shop the collection of Lovely Beards <b><a href="https://ooh.li/353d6a4">here</a></b> and use the promo <b><a href="https://ooh.li/353d6a4">BEARDS10</a></b> during checkout for 10% off your order. Make sure to pass on the promo code to anyone with a bearded fella in their life!</div><br /><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A big thank you to <a href="https://ooh.li/353d6a4">Lovely Beards</a> for sponsoring this post! And thank you to all of my readers for supporting the partners that make this blog possible.&nbsp;</span></i></div>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-47962545304863849742016-11-02T04:00:00.000-07:002016-11-02T04:00:02.154-07:00Mid-week confessions <div style="text-align: justify;">Here we are again at the middle of another crazy week. Ready for some fun little mid-week confessions? Here we go!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First things first...let's talk about The Walking Dead. In my <a href="http://www.luluandsweetpea.com/2016/10/mid-week-confessions.html">last post</a> I talked about how excited I was for the upcoming season premiere, and it certainly didn't disappoint! Sunday nights are pretty much all I have to live for right now. If you aren't caught up you should probably stop reading now (and get off the internet entirely, since it's filled with spoilers around every corner). Spoiler alert- Abraham and Glenn are gone. Sad, sad day. I could deal with Abraham, but not Glenn...even though I knew his death was coming. It was really sad, shocking, and way more graphic than I anticipated. I'm not a huge fan of super-dark, gory crap, so I was a little annoyed at how gross the deaths were. I knew what was coming and how Glenn would die, but didn't expect to see it like that. It was just too much. I had to get up and leave the room to pace around nervously and try not to listen to the sounds of what was going on. If the goal was to get us to hate Negan though, seriously, they outdid themselves. I hope Rick gets him at some point!</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In memory of when I used to sleep. I saw that printed on a mug or a shirt somewhere and I laughed out loud because that's exactly how I feel right now. I haven't had a really good night of sleep in 2 months now and I'm starting to feel as zombie-like as the walkers on my favorite show. It's gotten a little bit better- Josiah has managed to sleep a few long stretches at the beginning of the night from around 8pm to 1 or 2am. That's 5-6 hours, so not bad for a little guy. Still really bad for me though since I'm not actually asleep until at least 10pm. And these 5-6 hour stretches are not consistent at all, so one night I'll get a good little chunk of sleep and then the next 3 nights will be pure hell again, waking every 1-2 hours to feed him and put him back in his swing. (Yes, he's still sleeping in his swing. I'm in survival mode, people! Do whatever necessary!)<br /><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;"><div style="padding: 8px;"><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 62.5% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"><div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BMPmBUpl65y/" style="color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Favorite ☕️ #momlife</a></div><div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A photo posted by Melissa Swenson (@melissaswenson1) on <time datetime="2016-10-31T22:13:49+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 31, 2016 at 3:13pm PDT</time></div></div></blockquote><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm glad Halloween is over. Yeah, you heard me. I don't really <i>love</i> Halloween. I just always feel pressure to find costumes for the kids and make it fun and memorable, when really I don't care about it and would rather buy my kids some candy and watch Hocus Pocus. I like decorating the house and the events leading up to Halloween (pumpkin patches, caramel apples, harvest parties, etc), but trick-or-treating in Washington is always wet and rainy and your costumes get ruined by big coats and boots. Who wants to be Elsa or a witch or a sexy kitten while wearing galoshes and trudging through mucky leaves while freezing to death in those paper-thin costumes? Besides, this is 2 years in a row that Harper's been terrified of her costume. I had high hopes of her and Josiah being Dory and Nemo (her current favorite movie) but she was scared of the Dory tutu dress. Add that on top of a grouchy 2 month old who just got his shots and a couple of sick kids and your trick-or-treating plans go bye bye. Somehow I got over it though.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;"><div style="padding: 8px;"><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 62.5% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"><div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BL9A0aWF_ma/" style="color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">He's thrilled about his Halloween costume 😂 Can you guess what Harper is going to be?! 🐟 #babysfirsthalloween</a></div><div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A photo posted by Melissa Swenson (@melissaswenson1) on <time datetime="2016-10-24T17:02:25+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 24, 2016 at 10:02am PDT</time></div></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;"><div style="padding: 8px;"><div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 62.5% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"><div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BMFCe7rFfe8/" style="color: black; font-family: &quot;arial&quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">When your 2 year old is terrified of her Halloween costume AGAIN! Who knew a Dory tutu costume was so scary? There goes my plan of her matching Josiah as Nemo 😒🙄</a></div><div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A video posted by Melissa Swenson (@melissaswenson1) on <time datetime="2016-10-27T19:50:53+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Oct 27, 2016 at 12:50pm PDT</time></div></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I want to burn my bra. Not in like a feminist sort of way or anything, but I seriously want to set fire to all of my big, sexy nursing bras. Why? I hate bras. When I'm not pregnant or nursing I almost never wear one around the house (no need to really when you're an A cup). But while nursing I have to keep one on 24/7, even to bed, which I positively loathe. Plus, when I catch a glimpse of myself changing in the mirror I see all that fabric and I feel like a grandmother or something in this huge, beige, full-coverage bra with the industrial sized straps and clasps. I don't mind breastfeeding, and I actually sorta love it, but the bra part sucks and is so uncomfortable. I will be happy to destroy them when the day comes that Josiah weans from the boob!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I hate Costco milk. Seriously Costco, I know your stupid square milk jugs are probably way easier to stack in gigantic warehouses, but think of your customers, especially those of us with cereal-eating children who spill the damn milk all over the floor and counter every single day. Your milk jugs suck and I silently curse my husband every time he comes home with them proclaiming "I remembered the milk!" Thanks, honey.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two more days until Friday, which I'm not looking forward to because my kids have been home sick all week. I need some quiet time. I better wrap this up and enjoy my two hours of sleep!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-74212145952906955842016-10-26T16:16:00.001-07:002016-10-26T16:18:28.309-07:00Quick & easy photo albums {Plus 15 album theme ideas!} <a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/144341145.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love taking pictures of my children. Yes, I'm one of <i>those</i> moms. The one who posts far too many pictures of my adorable children on all of my social media accounts and who is constantly having to delete apps and games on my phone to make room for more photos. More photos! Of course I need 500 pictures of my toddler eating spaghetti. The only problem is that I don't really ever <i>do</i> anything with all of the pictures I take. They just sit there on Facebook and Instagram or take up room on my phone, tablet, and camera. I'm horrible at having my pictures printed. One look around my house and you'll see that I don't even have a single picture of my almost two month old baby boy...unless you count on my phone.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I was a kid we had these huge photo albums we'd look at all the time. I loved looking at them. Back then, taking pictures was expensive (think film &amp; developing it), and putting together a photo album or scrapbook took a lot of time and effort. I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I don't have a single photo album in my house. Nope. Not one. Well, until now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thankfully <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df">Shutterfly</a></b> has a brand new service called <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df">Make My Book</a></b> that makes it so easy to whip up a photo album in almost no time. Perfect for <strike>lazy</strike> busy moms like me. You can even use pictures directly from your Facebook or Instagram- I love that part! All of my best pictures are on there so it made finding my favorites for this baby book I wanted to make quick and easy.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TTAYITjtYv4/WBE2x5AYNiI/AAAAAAAAH4U/Mnnpz_Qv7bwkB4P2B2iZ-dnI_hmQI-CLgCEw/s1600/DSC_0602.png" /></a></div>Putting together this photo album took little to no effort on my part. The designers at <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df">Shutterfly</a></b> did it all! A book like this would have taken me HOURS to put together. I don't know about you, but I don't have that kind of time anymore. In reality, this book only took me about 10 minutes and I kind of just threw it together- <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df">Shutterfly's Make My Book</a></b> did the rest! All I did was connect my Instagram, choose my pictures, select my book size/style, and submit my order. I opted to have a designer curate my best photos for me and I left a note on the order that the book would be documenting the first 2 years of my daughter's life ( It's so great that they give you a space to leave a note with special requests or whatever you want to let them know about the book before they design it for you!) Within 3 days they emailed me a preview of my book and I was blown away! <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df">Make My Book</a></b> created a beautiful photo album showing Harper from birth to two years old. They chose the best photos and added all of these amazing little touches to make it look like a handmade scrapbook. I think my jaw may have dropped when I saw the preview. I reviewed my order and submitted it back to <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df">Shutterfly</a></b> (you can also make changes here or add some finishing touches). I could not wait to get my book in the mail!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7KWR00e5Dz8/WBE2x2UqgYI/AAAAAAAAH4Y/ukk2Mzuqf_sFKijjf7B0G1cE8-0tyf34ACEw/s1600/DSC_0621.png" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What I received from <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df">Shutterfly's Make My Book</a></b> service is this stunning photo album/baby book of my beautiful Harper. The quality is amazing. I chose the 11x14 book and it's huge! The photos are so pretty, even though they were taken with a phone and were from my Instagram, and the book looks like it was carefully put together and took tons of time to make. I love all of the little flourishes and finishing touches they added! Everything is absolutely perfect and I get all of the credit for making it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0F5YxL9RAoM/WBE21Ethn6I/AAAAAAAAH4g/TSW6fHLFSpwMfavnBwKFvBjNihGEjNUsgCEw/s1600/DSC_0627.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2AsnuupliE/WBE227nK8ZI/AAAAAAAAH4k/e5H2iu0kxTob2o-3kvBoc6WOG5Dl_vvcQCEw/s1600/DSC_0631.png" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My family has spent so much time together looking over this photo book and cracking up. We laughed until we cried, and then we really did cry! I love having a physical copy of these precious memories for my family to cherish forever. I'm not sure what Harper thinks about this big book about her, but it's such a special keepsake to have. I can't wait to put together some albums for each of my kids now that I know how easy the process is with <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df">Make My Book</a></b>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zdPfKiYxxlQ/WBE2yCn8sSI/AAAAAAAAH4c/OOfOhKC1GdsbIN8xEfhwFuw7bYhBh0UAACLcB/s640/DSC_0598.png" width="442" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are a few more ideas/occasions for photo albums I want to make:</div></div><br /><ul><li>Baby book for each of the kids</li><li>Summer break</li><li>Wedding</li><li>Vacation</li><li>School year</li><li>Anniversary</li><li>Instagram favorites</li><li>Engagement</li><li>Pregnancy</li><li>Birth story book</li><li>Love story</li><li>Family tree</li><li>Family reunion</li><li>School year</li><li>Graduation</li><li>College</li><li>Photography</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">These photo books make great keepsakes for your family and would also make for an amazing gift! I've already got ideas swirling in my head for Christmas and birthdays!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">What would you create with <b><a href="https://ooh.li/0c1b5df">Make My Book</a></b>?</div></div><br /><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-37415478133394015082016-10-12T04:00:00.000-07:002016-10-12T04:00:24.487-07:00Mid-week confessions <div style="text-align: justify;">Hi lovelies! Today's blog post is just a fun one where I share a few mid-week confessions. We're already halfway through the week and these are just some little tidbits that are on my mind...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I miss sleep. Seriously guys...I've been sleeping in 2-3 hour chunks for 6 weeks now and I'm dyyyyying. OK, not really, but I'm seriously exhausted. I need my sleep. No really, I cannot function on this little sleep. I put Harper and Josiah both down for bed at 8pm (I use the term "bed" loosely with Josiah, as he actually sleeps in a swing right now. Don't judge me- it's the only way this guy will let me get any shut eye! We're confessing here). I try to fall asleep by 9 or 10pm, which is usually easy because I'm so tired, but sometimes I get stuck on my phone in bed catching up on emails, Facebook, Instagram, taking a few Snaps, sending a few tweets, pinning projects I'll never do- you know the bedtime drill! My husband will catch me still awake and order me to sleep because it's my only chance. Part of me wants to just fast-forward to the time when babies sleep through the night...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rdM0p0EcLkI/V_2ci_q-B6I/AAAAAAAAH38/-vMb38D4e688WtP-kREzyMgomlKGZ9NWQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7470.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rdM0p0EcLkI/V_2ci_q-B6I/AAAAAAAAH38/-vMb38D4e688WtP-kREzyMgomlKGZ9NWQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7470.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Swaddled in his swing...he escaped the straitjacket!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I'm scared to have sex. Ahem...TMI, I know, but I just have to get this out there: I'm terrified. Simply because it was only 6 short weeks ago that I birthed a 7 1/2 pound human out of that area, so I think you know where I'm going. Ouch. My poor husband though- I do feel for him, but I'm just not sure I'm physically healed and ready yet. Anyone else have these reservations after childbirth? Plus, you know, I'm exhausted, so that would cut into sleep time some more. The struggle.<br /><br />I feel like I'm a diaper changing milk machine. I confess: my two year old is nowhere near being potty trained (she's terrified of Pull-Ups for some reason &amp; she will only sit on the potty with a diaper on). So that means I've got two in diapers, which means I change about 500 diapers a day, which resulted in me calling the city and asking for a bigger garbage can for outside (seriously). Josiah also loves to eat every 5 minutes, so I feel like my boobs are just out and he's at an all day buffet. I'm literally nursing on demand. I wish he'd fill up and stay full!<br /><br />Having a newborn and a toddler is <i>hard</i>. Truer words have never been spoken and I feel like most days I'm struggling hard. If I can get in the car to drop my husband off at work, put on some sort of daytime clothing, get both babies to nap at the same time, and make dinner all in the same day it's a miracle. Most days I only accomplish half of those things though and I still feel like I've run a marathon. By the time the big kids get home from school I'm counting down to bedtime and wishing I could skip the whole dinner thing.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rM-n-1LzVFw/V_2cjMSq0oI/AAAAAAAAH4A/e-yE1qiAD903QiTCu24SNx7qm1--uc2ZwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7524.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rM-n-1LzVFw/V_2cjMSq0oI/AAAAAAAAH4A/e-yE1qiAD903QiTCu24SNx7qm1--uc2ZwCLcB/s1600/IMG_7524.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A quick trip to Target!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7UnGfhygf64/V_2cdXeO7lI/AAAAAAAAH34/hs4gTVcNV68mK9C9oN6hjrz_n8cGtACoACLcB/s1600/Image-1%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7UnGfhygf64/V_2cdXeO7lI/AAAAAAAAH34/hs4gTVcNV68mK9C9oN6hjrz_n8cGtACoACLcB/s400/Image-1%2B%25281%2529.png" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">How I look most days I leave the house- hat &amp; big glasses for the win!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I'm way too excited for TWD to return. If there's one thing I'm looking forward to though, it's the return of The Walking Dead. We've waited so long to know who died on the season finale- who's it going to be? I'm thinking it's Glenn, but I hope I'm wrong! Hoping to resume my traditional TWD viewing party with my friend Jodi and her husband (she lives just a few blocks away and I don't have cable anymore), but I'm not sure how I'm going to finagle that with my bouncing baby boy who can't bear to be away from my boobs for that long. He may just have to come along. Don't worry- I'll cover his eyes at the scary parts ;)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E6YyL5yI_Hc/V_2ba0LTjTI/AAAAAAAAH30/rNSl9s713CQ93xw7O5JwlcwjS1j6AOkjQCLcB/s1600/the-walking-dead-season-7-rick-lincoln-michonne-gurira-cci-key-art-1200x707-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E6YyL5yI_Hc/V_2ba0LTjTI/AAAAAAAAH30/rNSl9s713CQ93xw7O5JwlcwjS1j6AOkjQCLcB/s640/the-walking-dead-season-7-rick-lincoln-michonne-gurira-cci-key-art-1200x707-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Only two more sleeps until it's Friday! Which, if you're a mom means nothing, haha.&nbsp;</div><br /><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-78725617900303594612016-10-07T12:20:00.001-07:002016-10-10T12:49:56.626-07:00Love your leftovers + the easiest slow cooker lasagna recipe <a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image:url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/185767871.png') !important; width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Leftovers. That word seems to have a strong reaction for some people- either you love them or you hate them. If you're a busy mom like me, chances are you <b>love </b>leftover night. I mean, who likes making dinner <i>every</i> single night? Not me! These days, I'm all about convenience, saving time, and saving money, and leftovers are where it's at. What's not to love about cooking once and eating twice? Or three or four times if you're like me and you always end up cooking enough to feed a small army. Today I'm sharing my new <a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6">secret weapon</a> for leftovers and how to make the most of them, and I'm also giving you one of the easiest, most delicious slow cooker recipes that makes for ah-mazingly yummy leftovers!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Say hello to the brand new&nbsp;<a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6">Reynolds™ Disposable Heat &amp; Eat containers</a>! I found these at my local Walmart on the food storage aisle and I couldn't wait to take them home and give them a try. My husband recently started packing a lunch for work to save money- eating out every day really adds up and he ends up eating junk 90% of the time. Packing a lunch saves so much and he eats so much healthier that way! Plus, when he brings leftovers it cuts down on food waste at home, which I love. The only problem is that he never brings back my plastic dishes. Once they leave the house I never see them again. Grrr. When I saw these <a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6">Reynolds™ Disposable Heat &amp; Eat containers</a> I knew they'd be my new BFF when it comes to packing his lunch every day.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--CO--z_ECE4/V_fu0zMMR9I/AAAAAAAAH3Y/kW6FQb_Kr9o2k5UbtVbJSsoPYuR2vzoggCLcB/s1600/IMG_7726.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6">Reynolds™ Disposable Heat &amp; Eat containers</a> are microwavable, and are a great alternative to plastic because they are made with plant fibers, making them perfect for homemade meals on the go. When I make a big meal (like the slow cooker recipe below) there's always leftovers, so these&nbsp;<a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6">Reynolds™ Disposable Heat &amp; Eat containers</a>&nbsp;have been a lifesaver! My husband can bring them to work, pop them in the microwave, and enjoy a delicious lunch. Plus,&nbsp;I don't have to worry about never seeing my good plastic dishes again- he can just toss these when he's done. Genius!<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1fxLO4WJh8/V_fuyFdHB1I/AAAAAAAAH3U/Bk27VpANr5orE73FXh7COjP3MFRProFMQCEw/s1600/DSC_0544.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, on to the recipe. This slow cooker lasagna is one of my family's favorites because we are obsessed with lasagna around here. Did you know you can make lasagna in your slow cooker? It's SO easy and you don't even have to boil the noodles- can you believe that? Just layer your ingredients, turn it on, and you're good to go. Another bonus is that it makes a ton of food- perfect for leftovers and for using your <a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6">Reynolds™ Disposable Heat &amp; Eat containers</a>! Lasagna is one of those foods that always tastes better the next day anyway. The recipe below is pretty basic, but you can add whatever you like to it! Also, the amounts for the cheese are just estimates because I don't really measure anything- just eyeball it and adjust to your liking.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 lb ground beef or sausage&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 large can spaghetti sauce (homemade or store bought)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 can diced tomatoes</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2-3 cups ricotta cheese&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 tbsp dried parsley&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 egg</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2-3 cups mozzarella cheese</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 cup Parmesan cheese&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;">lasagna noodles</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Directions</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Brown ground beef or sausage. Add sauce and diced tomatoes and season however you like (I add extra oregano, basil, garlic, onion, salt, &amp; pepper). In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, parsley, Parmesan, and the egg- mix well and set aside.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Grab your slow cooker and begin assembling your layers. Start with a small amount of your sauce in the bottom, then add a layer of noodles (uncooked- break them to fit). Next, spoon on a layer of your ricotta mixture and top with some mozzarella cheese. Repeat with sauce, noodles, and cheese. I usually do 2 or 3 layers of each. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Serve with a salad and some garlic bread and enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LVRcdXMU4es/V_fxAYy61SI/AAAAAAAAH3k/8qtI3IVXyeIcA8bZhHsUM_t00fK1YdI3gCLcB/s1600/reynolds-lasagna.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pick up these Reynolds™ Disposable Heat &amp; Eat Containers at your local Walmart today. You can find them in the food storage aisle by the Reynolds Wrap.&nbsp;Better yet, grab <b><a href="https://ooh.li/5d3a72d">this coupon</a></b> first before you head to the store and <a href="https://ooh.li/5d3a72d">save some money</a> while you're at it!&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBNMFV-CGUA/V_fuxvhylUI/AAAAAAAAH3Q/Wyr6nFvaBkYb4DpkivyJZqPRSLoGEtnjgCEw/s1600/DSC_0556.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">What about you- do you love or hate leftovers? Could you put these <a href="https://ooh.li/f083bd6">Reynolds™ Disposable Heat &amp; Eat containers</a> to good use in your household? Let me know your favorite dinner recipe that makes for great leftovers so I can try it out too!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center></div>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-68383676654040179812016-10-01T16:47:00.001-07:002016-10-11T08:16:27.319-07:00Easy ways to reconnect with your kids <div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url(&quot;http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/279553223.png&quot;); background-repeat: no-repeat; border: none; display: inline-block; height: 50px; padding: 0; width: 400px;" /></a><br />As a mom of four I can tell you that it's been quite a challenge lately to spend quality time with all of my kids, especially the older ones. Life with a newborn and a busy toddler has left me exhausted and I feel like I'm spread pretty thin most days. I worry about my older kids being left to their own devices and feeling left out when compared to their younger siblings. Sometimes it feels like there just aren't enough hours in the day to spend quality time with everyone! I've had to get creative with how I sneak in those <a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">smile worthy moments</a>&nbsp;and reconnect, and here's how I do it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kdN6TlRpDHc/V_BIqeMfXnI/AAAAAAAAH28/sX0PC6YEVLUhPceAM6dkcULJJ_uuCCPKgCLcB/s640/DSC_0516.png" width="482" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Talk about their day.</b> Do you ever try to ask your kids how their day at school was? Seriously, sometimes I'm so eager for conversation (after being home alone with the babies all day) and when I ask my kids <i>"How was school?"</i> all I get in return is a quick <i>"fine"</i> or <i>"good"</i> before they rush to the kitchen for a <a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">snack</a> and then head to their rooms. Instead, I've been trying a different method of questioning, such as:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>What was the best/worst part of your day?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>What made you laugh today?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Did you help anyone today?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>What did you do at recess?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>What would your teacher say about you today?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>What was your favorite thing you ate for lunch today?</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Asking specific questions like these will get your kids to open up more, versus the same old boring <i>"How was school"</i> question. Instead, grab their <a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">favorite snack</a>, sit down with your kids, and get creative with your questions and see how much they start talking. I found this little time to reconnect after school sets the tone for the whole rest of the evening.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Family game night.</b> Sometimes we need to break up a long, boring school week with something fun. It's easy to fall into the routine of homework, chores, dinner, showers, and bedtime every single school night, and it's enough to drive me crazy by the time Wednesday hits. That's when it's time for game night! Sometimes we go old school and break out the board games or a deck of cards, and sometimes we just opt for an interactive dance or sports video game (a great option when we need to burn off some extra energy and move around!) Game night is definitely a weeknight favorite around here, and a great way to break up a long week.&nbsp;</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Movie night.</b> Friday night in our house is movie night. Whether it's a new movie we've been wanting to see or an old favorite, movie night always brings a smile to everyone's face and gets us all together in the same room. Gather up your <a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">favorite snacks</a>, drinks, cozy blankets, and pile up on the couch together!</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Go for a bike ride or walk.</b> Family bike rides/walks are one of our favorite things to do together as a family that keeps us active. It's a great way to get out of the house, burn off some energy, and reconnect with all of my kids. We like to make a pit stop at the playground near us and stop to play for a while too.&nbsp;</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">All of these ideas are great ways to spend some quality time with my kiddos and <a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">create smile worthy moments</a> with them. You'll notice they can all be paired with a snack (one of our favorite things to do around here) like <a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">Goldfish crackers</a>. These are a staple in our house! They're baked with real cheese and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives. With 12 grams of whole grain in every serving, <a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">Goldfish crackers</a> are a snack I can feel good about giving my kids that always puts a smile on their faces!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tU0BKa4lzl0/V_BIWlMRiwI/AAAAAAAAH20/ORCgDK1B6C86CUCkERbxsRRQkkzmqeIAACLcB/s1600/DSC_0520.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JDILx7F6nao/V_BIdO0c31I/AAAAAAAAH24/SsP5g1958BwUa_Mw6THuyCfedgBT3--DgCLcB/s1600/DSC_0512.png" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Do your kids love <a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">Goldfish crackers</a> as much as mine? Head over <b><a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">here</a></b> to share your <a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">Goldfish Tale</a> on Twitter or Instagram and you could win awesome prizes! Each month they have a different theme, so make sure to check out <a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5"><b>this month's challenge</b></a> and enter your own to win the sweepstakes prize- $1,000! Make sure to use the hashtag <b><a href="https://ooh.li/1badde5">#GoldfishTalesPromotion</a></b> to be eligible for the $1,000 prize.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What are your favorite ways to create smile worthy moments and reconnect with your kids?&nbsp;</div><br /><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351520486469257678.post-1342211273454041732016-09-26T13:34:00.002-07:002016-09-26T13:35:50.994-07:00A letter to my oldest child<a href="http://www.linqia.com/"><img style="background-image: url('http://linqia.ooh.li/disclosure/912496982.png') !important;width:400px;height:50px;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:none;display:inline-block;padding:0"/></a><br /><br />Dear Ayden,<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm sitting here looking through baby pictures of you- my sweet and sensitive first little baby boy, and I can't for the life of me believe that we just celebrated your twelfth birthday last week. It's been 12 years since you forever changed my life and made me a mom, a job I always knew I wanted but didn't realize how hard it would be and how quickly the years would slip by. From the very beginning, everyone was telling me <i>"Cherish every moment- it goes by so quickly."</i> I knew they were right, but it didn't really hit me until I sat there watching you blow out your twelve candles.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You were always my "easy" baby. As a newborn, you were so calm and content- we could take you anywhere and you were always a happy, chubby, bald little man. People were always complimenting your sweet demeanor! You'd smile at everyone.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a toddler you were my fearless little adventurer who always kept me on my toes. When we went to the park you were always the kid getting hurt and our play dates usually ended with me almost having an anxiety attack when you'd fall off the slide, get your fingers stuck in the playground equipment, flip over backwards on the swings, and refuse to get back into your stroller so we could head home. You had so much energy and always wanted to explore and have fun- you definitely kept me on my toes!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Your little sister Lily arrived when you were just 3 1/2, and that's when I realized how truly blessed I was that you came first- you were such an independent, self sufficient little guy. You made the transition from a family of 3 to a family for 4 so easy, and you loved your baby sister something fierce. From the moment you laid eyes on her you were mesmerized, and you two have been pretty much inseparable since then. You were such a caring big brother who was always looking out for Lily, and you always included her and let her tag along like your little shadow. You helped teach her to walk, talk, and do all of the things she watched you doing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Watching you head off to school was like watching a piece of my heart leave me. Lily and I both had such a hard time with it and we didn't know how to make it through the day without our Ayden. You were so excited though. You loved school right from the very start and you excelled at every grade and subject with ease. I loved watching you develop a love for reading, learning, and making friends.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And now here we are- your last year of elementary school and one year to go before you're officially a teenager. I can't believe how quickly those years slipped by. You've grown to be such a smart, silly, fun-loving kid well on his way to becoming a responsible young man. I'm so proud of all that you do at home, in school, at church, and with your friends and family. Here's why:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I can count on you.</b> As a family of 6 now, with three younger siblings, I count on you so much. You've kind of become my right hand man around the house, always pitching in and picking up the slack for me when things get crazy. Most of the time now I don't even have to ask- you just jump in and do what needs to be done. That's just how you are though- you volunteered to be a crossing guard and help keep the little kids safe on their way to and from school. You campaigned to be on ASB and won, and you did an awesome job last year by making your school a better place. You put so much hard work into it! So many people depend on you and you're always stepping up to the plate when something needs to be done.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MYmWbfuKXe0/V-gnzjHBzeI/AAAAAAAAH2E/bqPqN5UUZ5g2_0UYOCGcTmm0impFbXJwACLcB/s640/DSC_0462.png" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>You love learning.</b> You've always enjoyed school and learning new things has come so easy to you. Reading has never been a chore for you- I love that you share my love of reading! Now I can share my favorite books with you and we can "nerd out" together, discussing our favorite characters and getting excited over the same plot lines. You're always receiving academic achievement awards at school for your awesome report cards and perfect attendance and your teachers are always raving about you in our parent teacher conferences. You're even pushing yourself by joining some new clubs at school, like Lego Robotics and Coding. I love that learning is fun for you!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>You're funny.</b> Making people laugh is probably one of your favorite things to do, and I absolutely love this about you. You definitely get your sense of humor from your dad, which is what made me fall in love with him too. You're going to make some young woman laugh for the rest of her life when she marries you- she's going to be so lucky to have you! You're always making people smile.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>You're creative.</b> I'm always blown away by your creativity- another trait you get from your dad. You can draw anything and love expressing your creativity through a pencil, pen, and paint. Some of the artwork you've made for me will be treasured forever...long after you're grown!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>You're sweet.</b> From the very beginning to even now, as a big, mature, grown up 12 year old, you're still sweet. You've never been afraid to show your feelings and emotions- something that is going to be such a help to you as you navigate this big, scary world. Having a huge heart like you do and being able to show and express your feelings is an amazing trait to have, especially for a man.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x3Hm4vK9wUU/V-gnzjszV7I/AAAAAAAAH2I/vvoVsCHZi2kwMxjSnk0Jt8ceY19sTU3XgCEw/s640/DSC_0468.png" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For all of these reasons and more...I love you Ayden. I'm so proud of the boy you are and the man you are becoming. I've loved watching you grow up and I can't wait to see all that this life has in store for you! I know you are going to do some great things. I'm so lucky to be your mom.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Love,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mom</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've teamed up with <a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264">Yoplait Go Big</a> to share what makes tweens/teens amazing. Do you have an amazing tween? Make sure to tell them what it is about them that inspires you! Write them a letter like this and give it to them (or read it to them, if you think you can do it without sobbing like a baby like I did). For a chance to win the spotlight for your tween, check out the new <a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264">Go Big Facebook page</a> and submit your letter there. <a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264">Go Big</a> will select three tweens with amazing stories and give them a platform to show the world (full contest rules <a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264">here</a>).&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2VAj0VGQ5fA/V-gn3vqnUMI/AAAAAAAAH2Q/jSWSCp9HruwEJYD6lvMNiN_kl0Ipxis5gCLcB/s1600/DSC_0486.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JL_Lpyabq8/V-mF00hRYfI/AAAAAAAAH2g/r1686jEA10M0Fkiho3nXu6TG15CnmHskgCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160923_184345.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JL_Lpyabq8/V-mF00hRYfI/AAAAAAAAH2g/r1686jEA10M0Fkiho3nXu6TG15CnmHskgCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160923_184345.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264">Yoplait Go Big</a> is a brand new yogurt pouch that I found at Walmart, designed specifically with teens in mind. They're made with real fruit and just the right amount of sweetness, with no artificial colors or high fructose corn syrup, contains real fruit, and is a good source of calcium. <a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264">Go Big</a> pouches have just the right amount of yogurt and it fuels the amazing in amazing teens to help them crush it- every single day! Just grip &amp; rip for the perfect on-the-go snack!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vAnwP6VRq4w/V-gnwwcJvmI/AAAAAAAAH2A/l-EgbtCXlbgT4GAVslSWZr6uOF73b810ACEw/s1600/DSC_0470.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My tween loves the strawberry and mixed berry <a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264">Go Big</a> pouches. They make for a great quick breakfast that he can grab on his way out the door on busy school mornings. Just grip, rip, and go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RZHMQ0qaiPk/V-gn2cHDI_I/AAAAAAAAH2M/8u98-zhiI8ol6oZorDYjZ0SFC5Xjj0bjQCEw/s640/DSC_0475.png" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I bet your tween is amazing too. Head over to the <a href="https://ooh.li/22fe264">Go Big Facebook page</a> and share how your tween inspires YOU!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><center><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AnYMey26Qr4/VUPZO_yfufI/AAAAAAAAGgk/E8Z73JnZJ9E/s1600/signature.png" /></center>Lulu and Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225602291913113394noreply@blogger.com0